Opinion
Erdogan playing with fire
Alex Fishman
Published: 02.10.11, 18:15
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1. Netanyahu playing with fire
Daniel ,   Tel Aviv   (10.02.11)
not Erdogan. Under his watch, Israel lost its most significant ally in the moslem world and we have an extremely hostile arab and moslem world to contend with as the result of his anti-peace policies. I am afraid that we are heading for a catastrophic wave of violence very soon, all the elements seem in place and whats awaiting is the trigger. Unlike the second intifada in 2000, the arab and moselm world is so agitated and deeply unstable now that we could be fighting on multiple fronts (west bank, sinai, gaza, lebanon and even syria, sea vis-vis turkey). stop this madness, make the necessary compromises before its too late
2. Losing Wars will stop Him !.
Arn. ,   Sweden.   (10.02.11)
So who will be stopping Erodgan? Comment - Turkey will Bow to Saudiarabia in order to survive. Arn.Sweden.
3. Erdogan
max ,   washington dc   (10.02.11)
Erdogan is playing a deadly game which could result in a war that nobody wants. If he thinks Iran will come to rescue him, he is badly mistaken.
4. erdogan
Sam M ,   UK   (10.02.11)
Confirms what many people believe that this man is mentally unstable, though in the muslim world he's regarded as quite normal!!
5. BOUND TO END BADLY
LAWRENCE ,   SAFED ISRAEL   (10.02.11)
Erdogan is clearly spoiling for a fight.
6. netanyahu the problem?
snake ,   jerusalem, israel   (10.02.11)
you say "Under his watch, Israel lost its most significant ally in the moslem world" you neglect the fact that A: he had no choice as erdogan forced his hand B: turkey was long looking for a reason to break ties with israel as it has become more fanatacized and fundamentalist in the last 4 years, this was merely an excuse that erdogan jumped on. netanyahu had no other choice than to act as he did. the only better option would have been to torpedo the marmara. dont forget, netanyahu has made more compromises in recent israeli history than anyone else. look at hebron! schem (nablus) look at half of samaria! these were his doing, and it got us no where. why should we trade more strategic land for empty promises, why should this continue to be a one-way street? you say compromise? well that should be a TWO way street. i agree, there should be compromise, but they must compromise as well.
7. to Lefty # 1
Alan David ,   Netanya, Israel   (10.02.11)
This has nothing to do with Netanyahu's peace policys. This has to to with a Turkish moron who has been spoiling for a fight way before Bibi came to office, and even before cast led. Dont always look at the Israeli leader to blame, Youre Leader, Have a little back bone and pride for a change and stand up for you nation, people, and leadership, and try to find some fault in the phycho mad man that threatens to murder us, instead of finding fault within our own ranks. Dont be a capo.
8. All this for not saying 'sorry'?
Daniel Teeboom ,   daniel565@chello.nl   (10.02.11)
I seriously have to believe this? It's Netanyahu's fault because he didn't apologize? When somebody wants war, they find an excuse and run with it. That is what Erdogan is doing. He wants a conflict. To claim It is Netanyahu's fault is the exact same reasoning that blames a rape victim for dressing too provocative. Of course if Erdogan studied Western behavior he would have known his course of action would indeed lead to people blaming Netanyahu. People in the West always respond by blaming the victim. We blamed Theo Van Gogh for getting decapitated by a Muslim fundamentalist, we blamed America for 9/11. It is only natural that this behavior invites more and more aggression eventually leading to war.
9. AN ISRAEL GOVERNMENT STATEMENT ON BLOCKADE NEEDED
Ian ,   Newcastle upon Tyne   (10.02.11)
Israel's government is being too timid.The right to impose and maintain the Gaza Strip blockade is now widely recognized.The time has come for Israel's government to re-affirm that the blockade is still in place and will be enforced. If Erdogan still insists on opposing it,he'll find himself even more isolated and a laughing stock. THREE CHEERS FOR ISRAEL!!!
10. Turkey acting like Iran....
Anna M Sedda ,   Rome-Italy   (10.02.11)
Getting the boats out just to "scare" the opponent;but Turkey is into the NATO league and should be warn that he cannot act like Iran. Turkey should be watched carefully and kicked out of NATO should his behavior continue to go crazy....
11. You mean backing away, Daniel,
Robert Haymond ,   Israel/Canada   (10.02.11)
and appeasement? This never worked with bullies, Daniel, and never works with enemies. HAven't you understood this from countless years of Jewish history? The best way is to show our teeth and ensure the fact that our opposition knows full well that we are powerful and determined. Our greatest weakness lies with Jews like you, both within Israel and in the Diaspora. You have learned nothing from the long years of our history. Our opposition wants our death, our extinction.
12. #1: move to Europe with that attitude
EZRA THE PROUD JEW ,   USA-ISRAEL   (10.02.11)
We don't need spineless people in our homeland. Every single event that transpires against Israel are only those of hatred and hostility. If you want to live like a dog and a second class citizen, move to Europe or even an Arab state. But Israel will NEVER capitulate to the bullying tactics of insane leaders hell bent on causing Jews harm. Erdogan has been warned BY THE US, which clearly knows Turkish military limits and Israels strength. PLEASE NOT: THE US IS NOT ASKING ISRAEL TO CAPITULATE. IT IS TELLING TURKEY TO KNOCK IT OFF OR THEY COULD LOSE A SHIP. IT IS TURKEY THAT IS FAILING AND FALLING NOT ISRAEL. WAKE UP!
13. Erdogan is heading towards catasteophie
EZRA THE PROUD JEW ,   USA-ISRAEL   (10.02.11)
Turkey will get a whooping and be mighty embarassed should they continue with their antics. Israel has Americas TOP aircraft and hybrid missle systems that turkey simply cannot match with their rust buckets and average pilots. They'd get whipped like a school child in a bad school. Erdogan stands to lose everything and in the end, who the hell gives a damn about being isolated by the Arab states? It's BETTER for us to be separated from them anyhow. We're on totally different levels culturally, politically and in intelligence. They're a hateful brood: we are not. Isolation from Arabs? So be it.
14. The best is coming in Turkey
Ralph ,   Caesarea   (10.02.11)
wih a military coup.....
15. To No. 1 Daniel,Tel Aviv
Tor Gnon ,   Njamena, Chad   (10.02.11)
Go hide yourself. It's people like you who have learnt nothing from History that constitute the real threat. Do you really understand the word compromise? It's a two-way street. Shame on you.
16. last time for Israeli fighter jets to mess around
observer ,   Egypt   (10.02.11)
Turkey has produced a new identification friend or foe (IFF) system for Turkish jet fighters, warships and submarines and the new software, contrary to the older, U.S.-made version, does not automatically identify Israeli planes and ships automatically as "friendly." The new IFF has already been installed in Turkish F-16s and is expected to be installed shortly in all Turkish Navy ships and submarines. It's notable that Turkey did not blocked Israeli bomber aircrafts en route to attack Syrian Dir Ezur plant cause its American IFF systems identified those as friendly. The Levant sea gas field belongs also to Lebanon, Cybrus, and Syria. Egypt's gas deal was based on bribes to official persons making the contract void according to international law. There was no bound, compelling contract in the first place according to Israel's ex infrastructure Minister Paritsky. NEVER AGAIN.
17. after hubris comes NEMESIS.
pan   (10.02.11)
18. Source?
Doug ,   New Jersey, USA   (10.02.11)
If Turkish ships really did approach Israeli territorial waters, why is this piece of information only showing up in an opinion column? Has this story appeared anywhere else in the Israeli press (Hebrew or English)? P.S. Debka doesn't count.
19. slow learner?
@1 ,   Israel   (10.02.11)
You are repeating the same stuff the leftist said before returning the Gaza Strip. You must understand that negotiations take a long time, sometimes, the truth surfaces while negotiations take place. The truth is that returning this, or that is not what they Arabs are after. They consider you, and me, and all other Israelis as cancerous. They don't wish to live with us, or next to us. They wish for us all to disappear. The sooner you come to grasp with reality, the sooner you'll live comfortably in your own skin.
20. TO #7 AND # 11
LAWRENCE ,   SAFED ISRAEL   (10.02.11)
Daniel " the lefty " sorely needs to man up and to grow some stones ,this region aint for the faint-hearted.
21. A more informed and detailed analysis required
Shalom Freedman ,   Jerusalem Israel   (10.02.11)
This article provides some information but does not touch upon the real question i.e. What if Turkey does initiate military action against Israel? What would its aims be? Its capabilities? How much damage could they do to us? Would they consider using land forces? Could they existensially endanger us? What is their coordination with Egypt about? Is it possibly about a joint military operation against us? What is the real story here?
22. Islamists boarded Turkey, on course to sink her.
Jerry ,   The Netherlands   (10.02.11)
23. Marmara was part of Islamist (Turkish) war against Israel.
Jerry ,   The Netherlands   (10.02.11)
24. Turkey is infinitely more powerful than Puppet Saudia Arabia
Levo ,   #2 Misperceiving???   (10.02.11)
You surely have no comrehension of geopolitics! Despite its vast oil reserves Turkey ranked no:16 in the World is a bigger economy than Saudia Arabia. Wishful ZIonist thinking perhaps but there is no power in the ME capable of stopping the Turks!
25. 1#, Daniel what are you smoking?
Judah ,   Golan Heights,ISRAEL   (10.02.11)
Everyone of your emails always puts the blame on Israel. You live in Israel yet you always see Israel as the bad guy. The problems with Turkey have nothing to do with Bibi. The present Turkish leadersip is now threatening all of its neighbours especially Cyprus.
26. Turkish prime ministern
Barbara ,   Chicago Il, USA   (10.02.11)
He has become the hero and spokesperson for many of us in the USA who feel our government is controlled by Israeli lobby.
27. Stuff it Turkey.....
Koose E Mack ,   NY NY   (10.02.11)
Erdogan is on the path to a war he can't afford or win. The sane people of Turkey should do to Erdogan what the Syrians will do to Assad and what the Libyans did to Qadaffy. Observer, Ente homar Kabir.....Turkey's Pilots don't stand a chance against the best trained airforce in the world!!!! Everything else equal...superior pilots will tell the tale. No one can come near IAF Pilots...No one! Am Yisrael Chai-
28. Bursting economic bubble will stop him!
Noa   (10.02.11)
He is trying to start a war as quickly as possible, before his economy bubble bursts and everything is over. This is why we should lean back and look on why he makes a fool out of himself.
29. No. 1
Oscar ,   Hollywood, USA   (10.02.11)
OK Daniel, lay it out for us. What compromises should Netanyahu make that will cause your loony neighbors to want to live together with Israel in peace? Lay out your plan in detail. Rather than blame Netanyahu, please tell us what Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, Fatah, Muslim Brotherhood and others will surely accept to bring Israel the elusive peace it has dreamed about since its formation.
30. #1 you arte not an israeli. why? all your comments are full
ralph   (10.02.11)
of errors. it is turkey which is acting as an aggressor and wanting to provoke a fight. it will get the bloody nose it wants - hoping israel will stop at just one blow - so it can show its stripes to the arabs. it better be careful it might get more then it bargins for. a few ships or airplanes would be higher price than it might want to pay for such stupid silly game playing.
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