Quite simple: The Defense Ministry is still headed by Ehud Barak. He's among those pushing to reestablish defense ties and defense sales. As long as he can come up with an apology that doesn't sound like an apology and avoids legal culpability, he's ready to capitulate to Turkey's demands. Israel, as I and many others keep insisting, owes Turkey nothing - neither apology nor compensation. And I wish Netanyahu were as publicly resistant to Turkey's demands as Lieberman. But let's recognize that the US is pressing Israel to "make nice" to Turkey, as the latter remains a lynch-pin of US strategy in the region. (I for one think that's a mistake.)

More like illegitimate daughter, I would rather say!

Do you remember that there were several ships in the flottila, all of which were boarded by Israeli troops, but no there was no violence on any of the others? Do you remember that the activists on the marmara were carrying bats, poles, and knives? Do you remeber that the a number of comandoes from that raid suffered stab wounds, broken bones, and concussions (including at least one soldier who was thrown overboard)? Do you remember that, according to a turkish autopsy the dead were hit with a total of 30 bullets, all fired at point blank range? Do you know that an automatic rifle fires three rounds per burst? Do you remember that aside from the 9 deaths there were no other injuries among the activists? Do you understand that this means each time an Israeli soldier fired he let off only one burst, and directed it at an atacker who was right on top of him?

No, more like the returning matriarch that reclaimed her home from squatters.

before more than 30 years one palastinian man was arrested at allenby border becouse he offer the plo 300000 dolars but after he wrote a check to military force with the same acount he was permited to visite his city -hebrone - it is stratigy of money

it is prestitude ...

Turkey is not toast. Its economy is actually overheating . For some reason you have a lot of fans on this site. Its great that you support Israel. It would be even greater if you educated yourself with genuine knowledge of history and current affairs to replace your empty rhetoric and silly boasting.

How could Israelis forget? They certainly have not, at least not in my neighbourhood in Haifa.

Peace seeking people who has an army that uses phosphorus bomb on settling areas. Peace seeking people who has an army that killed thousands of civillians with latest tech weapons.

I agree 1000% I would not trust the Turks with anything! I would no go vacationing there and spend on Shekel there. I will rather go to Greece and help their economy and they are much less smelly people! Israel is an abused country and behaves that way!

Great article, and while I'm totally boycotting Turkey now, I will remember that Erdogan does not represent all Turks, and that there is a large percentage, though they currently constitute a minoriy, with whom we could have good relations.

Excuse me? Turkey's toast. For some reason, it would be really great were you to actually acquaint yourself with genuine knowledge. Oh my goodness! You just might have to graduate from high school first. Dear, dear. That will be just fine. I can relate. I have children in high school. Thank you SO much. Check back in a few years, okay, tsatskeleh? Until then, please shut up. You are incredibly ignorant. I mean -- really -- how much of an embarrassment do you wish to make of yourself? Think about it.

Which one?

First let Erdogan appologies to our President Shimon Peretz for Davos and then send him home who needs them ? They think they are something as they look on a magnifgiing mirror.

Excuse me, but did you say "overheating.?" Oh, idiot child, please DO explain. Cautionary note: I have the facts. Waitin' on you, Ben. Bring it on.

Israel uses weapons only when it has to defend itself. Your country used it's weapons to kill millions of civilians which posed no threat to it. Israel has to face civilians who become terrorists, thus become legitimate military threats. In addition, Israel acts in to minimize civilian casualties, something your country never concerned itself with as the Armenian genocide demonstrates.

Turkey and Turkish people are tend to forget everything, no matter good or bad, very quickly. After a long silence nobody in Turkey will remember Mavi Marmara incident or any related issues. If it is good for Israel's benefit, governers may pretend as nothing happened and take Turkey as a good customer (economically), but with cautious. But Israel, please don't forget how untrustful Turks are...

thanks for the laugh :)

Otherwise, ignore the ugly Drek

god forgive Israel.you have hatred and arrogance against other nations especially muslims.The world is chang ng but you re living at past.stop to sowing seeds of hate.turkey wants good relation with other countries -especially with armania-.but reality of being small country is obstacle for this.turkey founded 16 empires on 3 continents on china, on india, on russia, on egypt, on europe, on iran.Which country in the world could have handled so many different people.turkey is good friend because they are tolerant and humble.but if you press its foot.you should consider the its consequences.

We should change the name of that once popular song to "Ahz LO nishteh cafe Turki"!

What planet are you on? "Turkey founded 16 empires on 3 continents". No matter how you count, each one involved conquest (war) of others. Just as the arabs came to live in the ME from Arabia. Yet you accuse Israel of "seeds of hate" as they defend against their enemies; those sworn to annihilate them. Each war Israel won was in response to acts of war and possible annihilation by others. You have ‘cause’ and ‘effect’ backwards.

Does the author of this sob story and similar ersatz "journalists" have some adopted list of victim analogies for poor Israel? Battered wife...what's in store for the next column...abused child? If Israel wants to act like a true nation state it's people have to stop the incessant whining about being the perpetual victim.

I agree 1000% I would not trust the Turks with anything! I would no go vacationing there and spend on Shekel there. I will rather go to Greece and help their economy and they are much less smelly people! Israel is an abused country and behaves that way!

THE TWO COUNRIES ELECTED BY FREE ELECTIONS AND THE GEOGRAPHY OF THE REGION MAKE STRAREGIC ALLIES THE TWO COUNTRIES DESPITE THE WRONG POLICY OF ERDOGAN !! MAYBE NOW HE WAKES UP AFTER SEEING WHAT HAPPENS IN SYRIA NOW A THORN FOR THE TURKISH STATE !!

I have been to Turkey 41 times. How many times have you been, and have you actually seen anything? Turkey is toast. It will not be accepted into the European Union, and it is about to get booted out of NATO. Spare us your empty rhetoric and nonsense; it is very clear that you have no idea what you are talking about. Go visit Mersin and Iskenderun and take a look at the empty drydocking facilities and come back and tell me all about Turkey's "overheating" economy. You wouldn't know it from the shipyards .... but I would.

ISRAEL HAS NO HATRED TO ANY PEOPLE !! SHE WENT TO WAR TO HER ENEMIES BECAUSE THEY WANTED THE ANNIHILATION OF ISRAEL ! SHE IS IN CONTINEOUS STRUGLLE AGAINST HAMAS TERRORISM JUST LIKE TURKEY IS WAGING WAR AGAINST PKK TERRORISTS !! AS FOR THE GLORIOUS PAST EVERYBODY KNOWS THE FAMOUS OTTOMAN TOLERANCE FOR THE DIFFERENT ETHNICITIES UNDER HIS RULE TILL 1915 THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE HAPPENED AND THEN THE SYSTEMATIC ANNIHILATION OF THE OTHER MINORITIES !! SO CAN YOU EXPLAIN US WHY SOMETHING WENT WRONG WITH THE FAMOUS OTTOMAN TOLERANCE ??!!

Try not to forget that we are, or should be all friends. I am a Turk, but I don't hate Israelis or Greeks or anyone else for that matter. By spewing all these hatred online, you are falling into the trap of the sensationalist media. Diplomacy and politics are not what should guide us. Don't judge people by their leaders. Do you think all germans hated the jews during WWII. Turks are the only ones before Americans who actually saved jews from extermination. Over 1 mln were brought from Spain in 1492 to the lands of Ottoman Empire. This is 520 years of friendship. I used to see a group of New York Jews who participated in the Turkish Day parades in New York with giant signs of sincere thanks. Are we willing to loose all that? Is that what our religions teach us? Is that what common sense teaches us? We haven't learned our lessons from history. I think instead of supporting the stupidity of the leaders from both sides, we should find ways to embrace, and fix what they broke in the first place.