As the famous poet and the author of the lyrics to the Turkish national anthem Mehmet Akif Ersoy said 'Life without hope is like an empty bottle'. Optimism is hope, pessimism is a meaningless life. People who live in progressive and modern parts of Turkey such as Izmir and Antalya are full of hope, lively, modern, intelligent, curious - cana yakin - and much happier than those in Istanbul and eastern Turkey.

KOKONA HAKİRİ SOKAMAYU TAKAJİ . it means: Whichever way you turn,your ass is still back. Naming activist as terrorist prove that Israel is in a misarable situation.This is useless method to restore Israel's image.

I've noticed on several occasions you have used Turkish phrases. Anyways, you don't seem to know what you're arguments are based on. Get you're facts rights. You referred to certain parts of Turkey as been modern and other crap!! I don't agree with you at all. Don't judge a book by its cover mate. Shalom Israel

Helen: I am born and raises n Turkey but American. Unfortunately the person who posted at #32 claiming to be from Izmir (my home town) seem to prove me wrong with the low class, insult post. However I know what I am talking about. My guess is this person s not originally from Izmir. Must be a transplant from the east. A real Izmrli Alsancakl, Guzelyalili, Karsiyakali would not write such a post.

"Dont judge the book by its cover" ?? The sentence you refer to is by far more appropriate for Israel. The democratic, happy and peaceful land... full of intelligent, just, caring and creative people....,,,,which is only applicable if you are Jewish though! That does not sound very modern to the rest of the world. May I add that your government is constantly comparing their level of democracy and actions with countries like Syria, Iran etc This alone speaks for itself and is alarming. Being the "only democracy in the ME" is another laughable argument. Not much to brag about either. I hope that one day you will understand that the civilized people f this world has higher expectations from Israel than these bad examples you tend to give. And yes, great power brings great responsibility. I hope Israel will mature to the level of greatness it deserves, serving not only its own, but for all. I am, still. optimistic enough to have faith in our common humanity. Shalom

kOL HAKAVOD! It amazes me that there weren't more casualties. Since Erdogan became Turkey's PM they have gone back 100 years in time. Now they have a country that is run by a terrorist.

I do not know why so many Israelis think you are for real....but if you are...you ought to focus your Talkback first on apologizing to the Israeli soldiers....SINCERELY. Tell us that you hang down your head in shame and disgust for what was done to Israel.

I am a Turkish born American. Nowhere in my post i used the word 'crap'. I never use words of that nature anyway. However #32 claiming to be from my birthplace of Izmir seems to prove me wrong with his post using unnecessary insulting language. My guess is (and I might be wrong) he is not a native of Izmir (not a real Izmirli as we say) but a transplant to Izmir.

The whole world has labeled the IHH as a terrorist group. They were crying to be "killed". They uttering Islamic gibberish "Ya Khobar," where Jews were slaughtered by Mohammad & his tribe. They wanted a repeater. They used arms,iron bars & bashed the Israelis in the head. If that is not "terrorist," we wish them upon you!!!

If you would know anything about the incident you would understand that there is a legal blockade & no ships, no canoes, no nothing can get near nor into Gaza waters.Not then & not now.

We are applying the true meaning to the word terrorist. If someone comes at you with lethal weapons (“cold” weapons can be lethal), premeditated (armed, wearing protective vests and masks, is premeditated), attacks you (jumping on soldiers armed with life-threatening paint-ball guns is terrorosm, and offense, not defense) while sailing on a vessel attempting to break a legal blockade (#29, et al), they are terrorists. I suggest you look up the definitions for terrorist, weapon, premeditated, legal blockade, etc. Some of the terrorists deserve some credit as they protected the two soldiers brought below decks, from other terrorists who wanted to kill them (#21). Calling terrorists “activists” is denying reality (#32). Saying something different doesn’t work anymore (#8). BTW: The boarding was done in a legal manner. It is actually preferable to board in international waters. But you never let facts get in the way, so why start now, right? People say if you repeat a lie often enough it will be believed. Not in this case; you have repeated your faux “international law” too many times. It doesn’t work anymore. Nice try.

hundreds of cell phone cameras on that ship. what is the date 1969. Israel confiscated evertthing on that ship. If they want to they can show exactly what happened from beggining to end. WHY DO YOU THINK THEY DON"T DO THAT.

Oh, the only differrence is that Syria in trouble at the moment, Turkey in future!! Danger ahead Turkey, watch where you're going.

david the reason you are optimistic is cause you have affiliation to both countries so i'd say feelings at play here not whats on table as nietzsche said all generelazations, including this one are wrong :) not only in izmir and antalya harbours intelligent and canayakin people many are here in istanbul too like everypart of turkey but i thınk you wouldnt describe em as such for they may not praise israel as expected :) thre is a big chance turkish girl is a turkish jew like many in this pages posting from diffrent countries :) i think she is right about many turks still supports jews against arabs including myself :) yet its undeniable fact that relationsship between 2 country has been destroyed forever not gonna blame israelis(as they dont like it ) :) so whats done is done 38 Would you also like us to do your laundry and your shopping? :D

You may wish to seem sympathetic to Turks, actullay you are not.Your Anti-kurd view is clear as a day.I'm not racist and I have respect for 7 kurds lost their lives in raid.

I doubt David Israel is a "racist", as you say. Like most of us, he simply lacks respect for a terrorist of any nationality, whether Turk or Kurd.

we can argue about what happened forever- that's one thing- but this much cannot be argued- none of the versions of events put forth by any of the soldiers here confirm the use of the word 'terrorist'. Sane people using the word terrorism use it to refer to attacks on civilians which have a political or religious goal. Long arguments continue about whether or not those perpetrating the violence must also be non-state actors. I say no- attacking civilians with a political or religious goal, by any person not acting in self-defense is terrorism. Attacking soldiers is more of an act of war than terrorism. When armed soldiers board your boat, this is an offensive measure-fighting them becomes a lot closer to self-defense, and is by no stretch of the imagination, "Terrorism".

He is not anti kurds, but against pkk and it supporters you need to distinguish these 2 i know the guy more than afew years never seen him discriminating against any people he is a turk resides far from homeland lıkes to play guitar and sometimes criticize turkey thats all sadece biraz fazla iyimser ;) 3 cheers for whoever deserve it :)

This MARMARA affair is still not resolved because the amateurish planning of taking the vessel ! I observed from the Internet during 3 days the tv broadcasting free GAZA of the IHH crazy ACTIVISTS chanting religious jihadists SURRA and their desire to be MARTYRS ! Any person who saw this broadcasting and understand their meaning would conclude that they had BAD INTENTIONS ! A famous columnist from the Turkish newspaper HURRIYET Hadi Uluengin lamented the ignorance of MOSSAD in this fiasco . He wrote how you did not understand that this MARMARA expedition was a trap from ERDOGAN against Israel in order to increase the votes in the next election ! THANKS GOD THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE FATALITIES because these crazy fanatics could easily kill even with a screw driver !!!

"Thou shalt not kill"Erdogan is full of hot air and his own self importance

We are NOT able to argue about what happened forever, unless you avoid watching the videos and listening to the interviews (especially of the Captain and crew of the Marmara). The definition of terrorism is “the systematic use of terror”. Terror is defined as “violent or destructive acts committed by groups in order to intimidate a population or government into granting their demands.” Attempting to break a legal blockade is an offensive measure. Israel was on the defensive, while adhering to all international rules in conducting the blockade. The IHH planned to attack the soldiers as soon as they boarded, even if they boarded with fully loaded paint ball guns. “Soldiers” (as you categorize them) must not dress as civilians; this is a war crime for which the offenders can be shot if caught and convicted. They are Terrorists and it is only by the stretch of your own imagination that they are not.

If you would study the career of IHH founder and leader Bulent Yildirim, Especially his affiliation with the Turkish version of the Hezbollah which murdered many innocent people and buried them in th efoundation of Hezbollah owned buildings then you will understand what IHH is all about. A terrorist organization.

They DO show what happened on the ship from beginning to end. The videos they took are much more extensive than any cell phones could be with one exception; the cell phones would have shown the faces of the soldiers which Israel tries to keep secret as they are dealing with terrorists. They also published videos of interviews with the Captain and crew of the Marmara. Watch them. Why do I think you don’t want to do that? Because you don't want to be confronted with the truth.

As a survivor of the June 8, 1967 deliberate attack on the USS Liberty I'm used to the Israelis constantly changing their story so it comes as no surprise that they have done it here as well. I was aboard the Sfendoni during Freedom Flotilla 1 and hope that one day the truth of what happened will be known and those responsible for the crimes committed against the Freedom Flotilla 1 participants will be held accountable. That hope is in light of the failure to hold those responsible for machine gunning the USS Liberty's life rafts in the water responsible for the War Crimes committed against the United States.

I've researched this and have yet to find any public report or statement, prior to this one, that says that any of the commandos that attacked the Flotilla were shot. Could you provide a reference please? This looks awfully suspicious!!

The IHH is a radical Islamist group with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas. The "peace activists" on the Marmara were Islamist activists seeking martyrdom through a violent death. The video evidence exists of these activists speaking prior to the incident on board the Marmara, praying and wishing for martyrdom. In other words, they were spoiling for a fight, they were planning a violent confrontation (other video plainly shows this). Where there was no resistance (on the other 5 boats) there were no injuries. Where the Islamists attacked our troops, they got what they deserved.