I'm afraid I must respectfully disagree. Turkey's outrageous response to Israel's action in Gaza was completely disproportionate and offensive to Israelis and Jews. How long did Turkey expect Israel to tolerate daily missile barrages from Gaza targeting NOT military installations, but civilian population centers? Turkish state television funded two absolutely vile and completely untrue television programs casting Israel in a very bad light and portraying Hamas terrorists as poor, downtrodden angels, when in fact nothing could be further from the truth. Then, there was the pathetic episode of the MAVI MARMARA, in which the vessel, with its Turkish crew and terrorist passengers, deliberately attempted to run a fully-legal and internationally-recognized blockade, and suffered the consequences. Those consequences should not have come as a surprise to the Turkish government -- Israel has long asserted that it would act to counter any attempt to run the blockade -- but evidently it did. A sane and reasonable country would have backed down. I suspect the most embarrassing aspect to Turkey of the MAVI MARMARA incident was the fact that it was discovered that there was in fact not a scintilla of "humanitarian aid" aboard the vessel. Turkey had other motives; questionable ones. Of course, to salvage whatever shred of dignity Turkey had left following the incident (arguably, not much), a movie was quickly made, paid for by the Turkish government, again casting Israel in a terrible and wholly false light and portraying violent terrorists as "humanitarians" interested only in bring relief to "starving" Gaza. Yes -- "humanitarians" aboard a vessel carrying no humanitarian aid, bringing "relief" to a Gaza that isn't "starving." Is that what friends and allies do? I think not. Finally, I can assure you that Israel does not share all intelligence and technology with Turkey, very definitely not since Turkey's refusal to allow Israel to participate in air force exercises, which forced the cancellation of those exercises (what a slap in the face to Turkey, once the Turkish government realized that without Israel's participation, no other country was interested in taking part!). There is also the matter of Turkey coming increasingly under Iran influence. That's a bad move on the part of Turkey, but Turkey has made a great many stupid moves under Erdogan. Oh well. Israel does not want to go to war with Turkey, but if it has to, it will. It would be a military engagement that will leave Turkey very much the worse for wear.

girl go , now. What substantive? to you? you must be kidding, grown lady who talks of obliterating this country and incinerating this country? are you serious? Go to sleep! now!

You are clearly ignorant of how U.S. aid to Israel is structured. Permit me to enlighten you: 1. A small amount in interest-bearing cash loans. Only two countries in the world have a perfect repayment record with respect to such loans. Finland is one. Israel is the other. 2. A somewhat larger amount in the form of military credits. These credits must be used in the United States, and carry a back-end provision whereby Israel is obligated to share any improvements made with the American manufacturers. These improvements have been legion, and they have always been shared. 3. By far and away the largest segment of U.S. foreign aid to Israel takes the form of joint-venture investment capital. These joint ventures have produced, among other things, the mobile phone and well over half of the chemotherapy protocols in use throughout the world. They have also resulted in facial recognition software and other security measures which are in use in all the major airports in the United States and Europe (and, for all I know, elsewhere as well). I trust you have heard of Intel, the huge U.S. information technology corporation with a presence in over 100 countries. Did you know that Intel's largest research and development facility outside of the United States is in Israel? Quite a few IT companies maintain research and development facilities in Israel; these are all part and parcel of the joint venture aspect of American aid to Israel. U.S. foreign aid to Israel has produced tangible benefits to both the United States and to Israel. The United States gives a considerable amount of foreign aid to Turkey, recouping absolutely no tangible benefit. Despite all this aid, Turkey continues to charge exorbitant amounts for NATO leases, most of which is paid for by the United States. So what would Turkey be without the largesse of the United States taxpayers? And what do the Americans have to show for it? Not a damn thing. On the other hand, when Turkey will be expelled from NATO (that's coming; sooner than you think), and those income-generating NATO bases are moved further east and/or into the Greek Aegean, Turkey will go back to being a rotting sinkhole. You can kiss your most-favored-nation status with the United States good-bye, too. As to the second part of your question: how can Israel kick Turkey's ass? With great ease. Israel is, after all, a nuclear power and Turkey is not. Furthermore, the size of the army is really not that big a concern to Israel, so we really don't care that you have the seventh largest army in the world. Israel is well accustomed to engaging -- and soundly defeating -- military forces ten times the number of Israel's. It is not the quantity of soldiers in the fight, but rather the quality of fight in the soldier. Turkey has lost every battle it has ever engaged in since Galipoli (1916). Your most recent military experience was the invasion of undefended Cyprus. I discount that, just as I discount the Turkish military's "engagement" of unarmed, innocent Kurdish civilians. The fact of the matter is that Turkey is completely unprepared and woefully inexperienced, and any military engagement with Israel will result in a crushing defeat for Turkey. But I should think you're used to those by now; there have been so very many ....

Both countries are doing fine without each other anyway. Unfortunately, both governments have handled the last two years in the most stupid way possible. Still, there are many sane and intelligent people on both sides that should try to put forward the positive aspects of cooperation and friendship. I love Israel and Turkey and hope the best for both their futures in this very difficult part of the world.

Of course you do realize, I hope, that a Turkey firmly within the Iranian camp will render impossible good relations with Israel. The Islamic Republic is committed to the destruction of the State of Israel, and has stated as much on any number of occasions. You cannot expect Israel to maintain close relations -- or even diplomatic ties -- with a country (Turkey) that is strongly allied with Iran. That is simply not feasible. It is not possible for Turkey to straddle the fence, so to speak. There were ever only two options available: improved ties to the West, continued membership in NATO and admission to the European Union or close relations with Iran and Syria, two well-known unstable regimes which happen to be state sponsors of terror. Clearly, Turkey has chosen the latter. I believe that the choice does not bode well for Turkey but, as has happened so many times in the past, the folly of their choice is something that the Turks are fated to discover the hard way.

i wont say anything at all to your cocky stament on first part cause i know people like you never changes never accepts so it wll be juts waste of time for the scond part i am glad to see you underestimate us :)

As to the first paragraph of your post, I will take that to mean that you are incapable of formulating a reasoned response, because the facts in evidence simply work against you. As to the second paragraph of your post, all I can say is that no one will ever lose any money underestimating Turkey. Your armed forces just aren't any good, as has been repeatedly demonstrated for nearly a century.

okey i accept you are right :) it was my mistake to take you seriously

the sultan got the momar ghadaffi international humaritarian award. what else do you have to say.

# 29 to sara, you go girl. tell these blowhards where to go.

dear number 8, please pull your head out of your arse. soon we will all be coming to regain our properties.

Thank you very much. I try, but as you can read, it's something of a futile undertaking. They keep wanting to drink the Kool Aid ....

Well, you can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink. I hope you don't get too thirsty.

Damn, you cut the Ottoman crew no slack on this one. A steamroller on sassy Turks you were. Continue to proceed in such a manner.

Wow, a bunch of Turks got you real fired up, huh? Reality should be biting you guys than. The amount of racism and hatred you have is so shameful that I am losing the remaining hope I had for a more just future. Get a life and try to be more humane for the love of God.

You should not let your love for Turkey and the Turkish people blind you to the fact that Erdogan is an idiot. By the way, there was a news report some weeks ago in which it was revealed that Jews in Turkey are afraid to leave their homes because of all the Jew-hatred and hatred of Israel that has been stirred up. Still love Turkey, then? How do you reconcile that with your professed "love" for Israel? Or does your "love" for Israel simply not extend to the Jewish people, several thousand of whom live in increasing fear in Turkey? I mean no offense, but you really have a childlike and naive view of Turkey. It's more than just a tourist destination (although that's in steep decline, too) -- you are completely oblivious to the geopolitical realities. Perhaps this isn't the most appropriate forum for you, dear. I'm sure you can find a blog somewhere that deals exclusively with the travel aspect.

Thank you. "Continue to proceed in such a manner." Oh, Cameron, you can count on it!

The best way to weaken these countries ( turkey,Iran. ) is to sport the Kurds .Also note Turkey economic strength is dependent on the cash remittances from Europe and the ME.Hence, the Turukish economy is not inherently strong .I also think you are underestimating the Turkish lurking desire for hgemonic tendencies. Kazim Ali Kut, Iraq

I grew up in Izmir Turkey between 1950 and 1980. While I had many very good Muslim friends who are still among my closest friends ( CAN DOSTLARIM) there were also many more who used to mock me for having a name like David singing derogatory songs such as DAVI DAVI GOZLERI MAVI MAVI etc, calling me names for being Jewsish such as KORKAK YAHUDI, even at the first day of the 6 day war threateninbg to kill me as soon as the Arabs would finish Israel (We know who finished who). I have seen many Turks hating Christian Levantens who lived in Izmir, sometimes attacking their homes like the time in 1955 September 6-7. During the 1970 ies when I lived in Istanbul and Ankara I also saw observed the Turkish hatred against Armenians and Kurds ( I used to work for a company owned by a wealthy Kurdish family) Iheard Turks calliung Kurds KUYRUKLU (people with tails = animals) So Mr. nobody, before you accuse anyone of hatred please start cleaning your own house. And once more this post excludes those righteous friends.

Bosnia and Hercegovina is consist of two part, Republika Srpska and Federation. In Republika Srpska lives 1.5 milon of Serbs ,and aproximately the same number of Muslims and 0.5 milion of Croats. Serbs and Croats have the very same goals, but muslims from Bosnia and Hercegovina want to be a leaders and make muslim country in heart of Europe. A lot of Serbs and Croats are killed from muslims,and especially from jihad warriors,selefias from Arap world, which are tied with al qaida. They were in Bosnia and Hercegovina all time of war and killed many innocent children and old people civilians (Serbs). That is a real story. In most cases Turkey support and help Bosnian in every way to make muslim country in Europe. In last few yeras Turkey increse influences in BiH,and also in Balkan. They want to came back in Balkan after 500 years, and easiest way to do that is in weak Bosnia. Now world can see increasing presence of Turkey in Balkan (Bosnia and Hercegovina, Serbia, Macedonia), especially in non stable areas like Sandžak(Serbia), Srebrenica (BiH), etc... Last time Turkey prime minister refused to make official visit in part of BiH Republika Srpska , and officials of Republika Serbska canceled visit. They make instability in small countries like BiH, and that is small test for EU countries and rest of world. War in Bosnia and Hercegovina is one media war,and many stories in BiH are completelly lie. Only for your information Levo ,Turkey

Thank you very much for a most informative and enlightening post.

You write "The Islamic Republic is committed to the destruction of the State of Israel". You should be the first to realize that in the Middle East, what people say isn't what they mean. Iran can gain nothing from attacking Israel and will lose everything. Even if Ahmadinejad wanted to attack, do you think the generals and businessmen who really run Iran would let him? The Iranian goal is to be a super-power and the anti-Israel rhetoric is a tool to get there. It helped them fool your president into doing nothing for two years (he even supported the Iranian elections) and destabilized the Arab countries. No, Turkey is smart to side with Iran who outmaneuvered your fool of a president.

As a student of Bible Prophecy I am excited to see Turkey line itself up this way. Because, it is exactly what is prophesied in Ezekiel 38-39. Turkey is Togarmah and Gomer in these passages. They will form a coalition with Russia (Gog of Magog) and Iran (Persia) and Libya, Ethiopia and the Sudan against Israel. But, God will defend Israel and bring glory to Himself . I would encourage you to study End-Time Bible Prophecy, before it is too late! I suggest you start with Isaiah, then Daniel, Jeremiah, Zechariah 12-14, Joel, Obadiah, Micah, Malachi. Time is Short!

Turkey will be a super power between Europe and Asia. It is perfectly integrated political and economical into Europe,Russia and dominating new markets in Central Asia,South America,Africa and Middle East.