[Doesn’t seem likely to me.]
According to deal to repair Israel-Turkey ties, the Islamic country will commit to preventing weapons transfer to Hamas, while controlling Gaza crossings, ad-Diyar reports.
Turkey could be given a central role in supervising the border crossings with the Gaza Strip as part of a deal to repair ties between Israel and Turkey, according to Arab diplomatic sources cited by the Lebanese Ad-Diyar newspaper on Saturday.
The relationship between Israel and Turkey has deteriorated dramatically since the IDF raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla on May 31 in which nine people, including eight Turks and one Turkish-American, were killed.
According to the report, Turkey would supervise all humanitarian aid entering Gaza, as well as commit to preventing the entry of weapons and money destined for Hamas.
In this position, Turkey would play a meaningful role in lifting the blockade of Gaza and a central figure in the Middle East which will enable the Islamic country to mediate between Israel and the Arab world in the future, as Turkey has sought in the past.
The report has not yet been validated by Turkish or Israeli officials.
On Friday Turkish President Abdullah Gul told the French daily Le Monde that Israel must make amends to be forgiven for a commando assault on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, including apologizing for the attack and paying compensation.
Gul added that if Israel made no move to heal the rift, then Turkey could even decide to break diplomatic relations.
In an interview published on Friday, Gul said the Israeli attack at the end of May, which killed nine activists, was a “crime” which might have been carried out by the likes of al-Qaida rather than a sovereign state.
“It seems impossible to me to forgive or forget, unless there are some initiatives which could change the situation,”Gul was quoted as saying by Le Monde.
Asked what these might be, he said: “Firstly, to ask pardon and to establish some sort of compensation.” He added that he also wanted to see an independent inquiry into the botched raid and a discussion on lifting Israel’s blockade of Gaza.
Asked if Turkey might break relations with Israel if they did nothing, Gul said: “Anything is possible.”
Israeli government less brave than Hamas
Israeli ministers continue to deliberate over the commission of inquiry into the Marmara debacle. The commission, which will effectively judge Israeli soldiers, may include Obama’s representatives.
How come the United States does not create a commission of inquiry every time its soldiers kill Afghani civilians? How come Hamas has sidestepped Goldstone’s demand for an independent investigation of the human-shield incidents, and yet receives international support and foreign aid?
It better not be true. Turkey committed an act of war against Israel and if Israel has any self-respect, they cannot reward turkey by giving them this role. Not to mention turkey certainly cannot be trusted to supervise Gaza crossings. The Israeli government cannot be this crazy.
The chutzpah of turkey to demand apologies and compensation lest they not forgive or forget regarding an incident in which turkey itself sent terrorists to attack Israel. Again, if Israel has a modicum of self-respect it will dismiss such absurd demands. If turkey wants to cut off ties, who’s loss will that be?
And when is Israel going to ignore calls for an investigation of itself and get on the offensive and demand turkey be investigated for the jihad flotilla? They are still acting defensively and negotiating the terms on which Israel will be investigated rather than dismissing the notion out of hand and instead turn the tables on its detractors by demanding turkey, along with the free gaza movement be investigated for terror ties. Of course they never will be investigated but the point is for Israel to assert itself and put its attackers on the defensive.