Turkey is the one warmongering, threatening and bullying.

Turkey was a NATO member in 1974 when occupied North Cyprus but NATO stood on the side of Greece which at that time had dropped from the military wing of NATO. A crippling US embargo followed the invasion.

It is obvious that Turkey is trying to provoke Israel because there is no other country in the region with a navy or airforce even remotely close in comparison . The only reason Turkey dares push so hard because of the inaction by the US and the EU , except for some wristslapping and ineffective comments I think its time for some real action by the US and the EU send some warships to the area to contain this Turkish madness before a real war erupts. I think the biggest danger to Israel and other neighbouring countries at present is Turkey .

Unlike with the Palestinians and Syrians, restraint might actually work with the Turks. If a Turkish ship fires on an Israeli ship without provocation, then Israel should shoot back, but only against that one Turkish ship. She should then announce that a rogue element within the Turkish Navy appears to have commandeered a military vessel and the Turkish and Israeli governments are working together to identify and remove the conspirators. Then Israel should back off and let Turkey decide to do the right thing. If Turkey refuses to relent, then sink their whole navy.

The last great naval war we had - WWII showed that naval vessels cannot win against land based aircraft. The brits learned this to their chagrin in the far east. The only way they can win is for their air force to take out the opposing air force by surprise - e.g. Pearl Harbor. While Turkey is close to Israel - relatively - it is not close enough to give continued air support to the naval ships, especially when it will be dealing with the IAF which is considered on of the top 2 or 3 air forces in the world. All that having been said, IMO what Erdogan is trying to do is win points and influence people in the Arab world. Neither side wants a shootout and in the end, I doubt there will be another flotilla in the the near future. Erdogan is not crazy. He, like the Ayatollahs in Iran know what they want and how to use rhetoric to get what they want without going into military recklessness. In addition - yes, Turkey is a member of NATO and that would bring pressure from NATO to cool things down and maybe even a ban on using NATO supplied armaments in any conflict with Israel. And then again - this is the middle east. Logic plays no role here and anything can happen at any time. And lots of times does

A few years ago, the Armenian heavy district in Glendale, Cal, was influencial in promoting its cause of genocide in our Congress (It had a sympathetic Congressman), Turkey warned Israel to warn US Jews accordlingly, as if our legislators would heed Israel? This is extortion. Turkey now is again, using extortion. Didnt we see this coming folks? Israel has waxed and waned on everything, and cut its throat when it withdrew from Lebanon and Hamastan. (Thanks Hillary and Livni). The real world needs experienced and smart leaders. Obamas election was a portent of thi9ngs to come. We all knew it. Some (Thomas Friedman NYTimes), beleive his foreign policy is excellent. Excellent? They point to the Arab St..as examples..and Libya. All are problematic...and could turn on a dime. We were Mubaraks friend, and he, ours. Fair weather friends..that is the US. We fought in Vietnam for 9 years..and now trade with the Communits. Go figure. Abbas (and Russia) are fomenting real trouble at the UN..knowing Israel wont pull back until both sides agree. Surria says it isnt pushing..real bouble talk. China is staying aloof. Peace Now, JSt, Livni and the protestors..what will you do when Israel dukes it out with several countries..where will you hide? They also read papers. Turkey, Iran and Egypt were never Israels friends..more out of self-interests. NOW theirs has changed. From the Shah to Mubarak to the Turkish Army..the new Islamists smell blood, Jew blood.

NATO will come to a member's assistance if it is ATTACKED.It is NOT NATO's responsibility to support a member if IT starts an aggressive war. If Turkey provokes a naval war with Israel it will have to sink or swim alone.Almost certainly sink. THREE CHEERS FOR ISRAEL!!!

Now THAT is truly funny.

In 1974 when Turkish military started the invasion of Cyprus (and Cyprus did not have an army to match Turkish army at that time) the Turkish air forces shot three of the Turkish navy destroyers the Kocatepe, Adatepe and Maresal Fevzi Cakmak. Kocatepe sunk immediately and the survivors were saved by an israeli training ship MEVUOT YAM and her Turkish speaking Israeli commander Reuven Pinhas.

This will be the next headline.

Erdogan has basically declared war on Israel three or four times. It's unfortunate that the Turks don't overthrow this piece of crap before he embroils them in a conflict that most Turkish citizens don't want. The Greek Navy and Airforce will also be involved in this conflict, as they will protect their Gas Field Assests which are shared with Israel. The Turkish Navy doesn't have a chance against the IAF. I agree with those who stated that Israeli Naval Vessels wont have to fire a shot.... Remember what an Exocet missile did to the HMS Sheffield? That was in 1981......Anti shipping missiles are much more powerful and sophisticated now!

Over here not giving a shit if Turkey blast a few terrorists

playing golf, of course

I don't believe this story, it's total nonsense and will be corrected within 24 hours. It simply makes no sense, no Turkish warship would have the legal grounds to do that to any naval ship, from any other country, not just Israel. So don't fly off the handle. Warships don't go around stopping, boarding and then disabling the weapons systems on another countries vessels. This story is dumb, so don't believe a word of it.

Mr Erdoğan is looking for trouble he will get it. I think the question starts with "when" not with "if". The timing is unknown.

Another sensational news from both Sabah Newspaper and Ynet.Serving nothing more then escalating tension among our nations and stressing people.For 1.5 years same rubbish is around. Every god damn day, same story.World is on the edge of a serious financial turmoil again.Just today stock markets at Europe and probably most other part of the world dived sharply and we are still trying our best to waste time on this old topic.Don't we have anything else to do ? Shame on both Israeli and Turkish government.

..what ever became of Erdogan's very final warning to the Syrian government?I haven't heard much of that ,lately.More big talk and frustration. If you ask me,Erdogan is taking out his frustrations that he cannot even handle little Assad on Israel.He could do with a few sessions with a good Jewish shrink before he ruins all his life. THREE CHEERS FOR ISRAEL!!!

Turkey's armed forces actually match up quite well against the IDF. Turkey is not a poor Arab country with outdated weapon systems and poorly trained conscripts. Turkey spends more per year on defense than Israel, gets American weapons systems, and cooperatively trains with other NATO members. Israel should do what it can to ensure that a Turkish attack is an impossibility; moving toward a closer military relationship with the Greeks is a prudent act of self-preservation.

Worry not, their Bulgarian and Greek neighbors like them even less than Israel does. The Turks are digging themselves up more and more... Erdugan's an asshole!

Think Israel cannot do to Ankara or Istanbul what the Allies did to Dresden and Berlin? Think again.

Didn't know that pres. Obama was responsible for Turkey and Israel as well as His OWN country!! handle your own problems for once and Leave us out of it!!

he is probably drunk in one of his parties, or our golfing. the most ineffectual president the US has ever had.

I cant be agree any further.Yeah exactly a dumb story.

Already managing 3 wars in the middle east. Why is he suppose to be looking out for Israel and their foolish atttacks on aid boats.

We should know that turkey has 6th strongest army in world and second power of NATO . To be honest all its not easy to mess with turks. BUt we always want to have peace its israels fault to take drive and attack ships on international waters please be honest about things.

"Warships don't go around stopping, boarding and then disabling the weapons systems on another countries vessels." But this is exactly what Erdogan's buddies,the Iran regime,have attempted in the Gulf...and got away with it with a RN patrol boat when Britain still had its wimpish New Labour government. THREE CHEERS FOR ISRAEL!!!

While I am not a big fan of Mr. Obama, it's rather silly to criticize him for taking vacations. It may be a popular talking point for Murdoch's "news" outlets and others, but the fact is that Mr. Obama has taken less than half the vacation days that Mr. Bush took at this point in their presidencies. Want to criticize Obama on his positions on issues? Go ahead, if you know where he actually stands (and to me, that's really the problem). Otherwise, you just sound like another ignorant parrot squawking our stupid media's inanities rather than facts. I'm reminded of the wasted news cycle when our American media was deep in the arugula vs iceberg lettuce debate concerning Mr. Obama - as if nothing more important was happening in the World. Enough already with the garbage.

I'm really, really glad you are not in Modi'in. If you don't know the difference between the Turkic peoples and the Arab peoples, I wonder if you even live in the Middle East. Look, I can't stand Erdogan's bluster any more than you do, but please get the demographics of this region straight.

Ehh Mr Erdogan remember what happen in the Falklands war. in 1982..the argentinian pilots carrie out mission with very old fighters(excep a few super etendart) like the daggers and miragge agains one of the best navy at that time and almost destroy or damage most of the english ships....think what the israeli air force can do today to the turkish navy!!!