Opinion  Ron Ben-Yishai
Erdogan's miscalculation
Ron Ben-Yishai
Published: 24.03.13, 12:11
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32 Talkbacks for this article
1. Complete and utter horses**t
Sarah B ,   Tel Aviv/London   (03.24.13)
Erdoghan was actually being supported by the West as long as NATO wanted Turkey to host the anti ballistic missile system on Turkish territory. Erdoghan could therefore let the Mavi Mamara issue run and run for as long as possible with little or no consequence from the West. The article doesn't acknowledge that it was Netanyahu with Obama breathing down his neck who picked up a phone in a portacabin in Ben Gurion Airport and rang Erdoghan. A valient effort in twisting the truth, but in the end Twitter and Facebook and the rise of citizen Journalism means this sort of article doesn't work anymore. An I haven't even mentioned the state that Cyprus is in who Netanyahu tried to convince Israelis would be a suitable replacement to Turkey
2. So israeli apology to ease way to totalitarian Turkey?
Ilan   (03.24.13)
What is the the US or Israeli interest in strengthening Erdogan so he can become Turkey's Putin?
3. Mr. Erdogan made more strategic mistakes.
Reinier Verly ,   Valkenswaard // NL   (03.24.13)
Mr. Erdogan made more strategic mistakes. While concentrated with the issue between IL & TUR, mister Mr. Erdogan placed his name in an issue that will cost him and his country a lot !! Meaning, as we all know the NL has very liberal norms and it is good that it is like this !! A lesbian couple was allowed 4 years ago to adopt a totally neglected boy from Turkish parents. The boy is protected, fed and very happy !! The Mr. Erdogan followers, his party and he him self sudently woke up and started a major protest against the situation. It is that bad that the couple with the kid is in hiding now ??? Turkey was hoping in joining the European community and the NL was supporting it.....Not any more !! Openlly from most of the parties you can hear the sound that such a candidate is far away from becoming a partner. Mr. Erdogan you made a fool of yourself and dammaged the trust of supporting people !!
4. After this minute who cares Europe?
Obsessive ,   Turkey   (03.24.13)
Russia, China and Pakistan support Iran unconditionally. All Asian countries need vital Iranian natural resources. Turkey deadly needs Northern Iraqi oil and gas. Kurds are seeing Turkish defence industry. Trade & Currency wars with the end of Globalization, hard protectionism, every kind of racism, xenophobia, unemployment will continue to increase. Olmert says extreme right-wing elements in the United States helped derail his peace plan with pouring millions of dollars into efforts to topple him from office but when it comes to Obama it doesnt work. Israel need fair peace instead of insignificant adventures. Arabs shouldn't spoil the "apology". They should recognize Israel as a Jewish State(67'), acknowledge the Israel's right to exist. Happy Sunday.
5. apology
anton ,   istanbul   (03.24.13)
whats this concern of all israelis over meaningless apology,it wasnt even meant, coming years after the incident your dignity isnt stolen dont worry, but i have to admit the reactions from you is kinda funny none of you expected it :D i laughed this comment very much made in jpost, i quote"we are now turks bitches" :D
6. # 4 After this who cares about Europe??
BUILD BABY BUILD !!! ,   United States   (03.24.13)
America gave up on the bums over 200 years ago, only to rescue their unwashed asses from the Germans, in WW11. I ask myself, was it worth it? The answer is NO.
7. The Loosers is --
Arn ,   Sweden.   (03.24.13)
- Israel on the Moral and Ideological level, and Turkey on the Physical. It will only Boost the Turkish Ego, to go to Military Adventures, which will force Nato to Abandon Her, inthe longer Run. Mikael in the Book of HASHEM will rise in the Wars to come, and Obama has to Choose, Him or Erdogans Turkey. Arn.Sweden. Turkey will soon be crippled in the Wars to come, Rightly so.
8. Liberate Constantinople Now!!
Zorba the Greek ,   TA   (03.24.13)
9. yishai war correspondent
marv   (03.24.13)
I find that yishai's theories in many cases fall flat in reality with his theories. Erdogan has no intention of peaceful relations with israel as he represents the liars of the brotherhood that plays to the islamic mob in ankara . Meanwhile he chickened out with assad who gave him a bloody nose sending him begging to nato for patriots. That he got bibi to say sorry really has to do with bibi at this stage of his life being yellow to the core , jsut yellow to the core and there is no other way of saying it. He joins livni, olmert, ramon, turgeman, barak, peres, beilin and ben ami who are all cowards of thefirst order. They would fashion an apology to hitler to curry favour. Guys like lieberman, feiglin, yaalon, landau, even lapid because of his boxing skills and bennett are the new guys on the block to run for the leadership. Bibi should announce his resignation in the coming months and make way. His capitulation makes him a laughing stock and his wailing about nuclear's intentions. If you want todo something, shut the hell up first, make the plan, stack israel with 8 more iron dome, assure resupply of all materiel, array offenive rockets to equalize terror in lebanon and iran and pick a date. and if rockets should fly, target the bastards and nada killers of illegal rotten iran.
10. Erdogen is the Prime Murderer in chief.
BUILD BABY BUILD !!! ,   United States   (03.24.13)
Erdogens IHH thugs they came they saw, they died. ( trying to conquer. ) A cheap apology is worth it to keep Erdogen the screaming Turkish bitch silent.
11. Observer
Israel   (03.24.13)
Word and all recognize Israeli border 1900 but we can go back 3000 years when. Moses broth his people out of Egypt King David established Jerusalem 2000 years before. Mohammed invented Islam I am reading you rashes. Comments ... G-D bless the Israel ....protect them from the evil .....
12. Judging on what Erdogan is saying now
jrebecca ,   modiin   (03.24.13)
all he's learned is pushing buttons works, so lets push some more.
13. At the very least, any apology should have been mutual
Raymond in DC ,   Washington, USA   (03.24.13)
Israel was hardly solely responsible for the Mavi Marmara incident. It was Turkey, after all, that supported the flotilla financially and politically, and allowed the IHH to take a prominent role. So they certainly share responsibility for what happened on the Mavi Marmara. But heaven forfend that a Muslim leader be expected to apologize to any "infidel" nation. And given Obama's personal respect and friendship for Erdogan, he was never going to press him to admit "We made mistakes too." So the extent of US diplomacy was to press Israel to offer an apology, and Turkey to accept it and try to move on.
14.  Anton.......civilized countries call it ,,,,
alsky ,   toronto   (03.24.13)
freedom of speech. Enjoy it here, becasue you will never have it.
15. great calculations
(03.24.13)
Erdogan calculated perfectly: he knew that Israeli leaders are spinless cowards. Erdogan insulted Israel at every turn, helped arm the Hamas terror organization that attacked Jewish civilians and sent IHH to attack IDF soldiers, at least two who are permanently crippled thanks to Erdogan. Instead of being punished, we hear that Netanyahu gave Erdogan a groveling apology, and if he is allowed to visit Turkey, will polish Erdogan's boots.
16. Netanyahu's apology
Harold Neale ,   USA   (03.24.13)
Netanyahu's apology to Turkey proves he committed a crime killing nine Turks and that can drag him and others to the ICC.
17. Anton
David Israel ,   New York, USA   (03.24.13)
Just listen top the video interview with Perez in Hurriyet and see the difference of a world class leader talk then compare to your current leaders. Iyi pazarlar.
18. The apology
Al ,   US   (03.24.13)
Pure and simple, Ordogan demanded an explicit apology, compensation for the vectims and easing of the inhuman sanctions. He got an explicit apology just the way he wnted it and he got a promise of compensation for the victims. He accepted the apology and and promised that relation will not go back to normal untill the remaining conditions are fulfilled. I do not where Ordogan backtracked on anything. The writer needs to re-analyze his analysis.
19. good analysis... you forgot to mention gas, Cyprus, Greece
Robert ,   USA   (03.24.13)
Overall this is a good analysis of why things are changing, but the author left out the growing alliance between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel as a result of the large gas fields and pipeline possibilities between the three countries, and that Turkey does not want to be left out of that. This may be the beginning of a new sort of Mid-Med alliance that has a Western/ME flavor, and that would not be a bad thing for any of the four countries... but don't count on Erdogan, I believe his anti-Israel feelings are real and guide his foreign policy.
20. #6 Freeze baby freeze
Obsessive ,   Turkey   (03.24.13)
Why is humiliation and emotional torture. Don't you have a conscience? Unfortunately I have found your comment very disturbing and disappointing. Germans had suffered too much! :-(( You should apologize.
21. NO Apologies to Erdogan
Isaac Dji ,   LA USA   (03.24.13)
Netanyahu should not have apologized to Erdogan for the Mavi Marmara incident since the mavi Marmara was a willful Turkish governement provocation with the turks on board choosing serious violent confrontation, as the films of the incident show. But more importantly, Erdogan has recently made outrageous anti-semitic remarks calling Zionism a crime against humanity. So APPOLOGIZING TO ERDOGAN IS ALMOST AS BAD AS APOLOGIZING TO HITLER. Enough is enough; it's time to call it as it is: Erdogan is as EVIL as any other famous anti-semite. Anyone who thinks that an undeserved apology for the Mavi Marmara incident will be enough for Erdogan to change his malicious position, is fooling himself/herself. In all likelihood, Erdogan will set new conditions for normalizing relations that Israel should never meet. And he will likely raise his requirements if he thinks that Israel might be (foolishly) willing to agree to those conditions. In today's chaotic Middle East, Israel must show it has a solid backbone.
22. Teehee, Anton
HaifaGuy   (03.24.13)
Stealing a little giggle here, a coy smirk there, slipping in a fartsy little comment here&there, hoping to boost your turkish little ego by gnawing into Israeli online space, a bite here, a pinch there, you are a tiny mini-sultan, aren't you, you and your inept little fuhrer Erdogan? Well, do allow me to grant you that little ego boost: yes, mr.Big Turk, your ego is bigger than mine. There))))
23. #18 Al
David Israel ,   New York, USA   (03.24.13)
Erdogan's 1st condition was lifting the blockade over Gaza. He did not get it. The apology seems to a 'REGRET' according to NYT which Netanyahu was ready to do say it 2 years ago. Compensation also was something that Israel was ready from the beginning. So as you see Erdogan backtracked.
24. Not mistake. It was his plan
Iranian H   (03.25.13)
Erdogan is not a good man. He crushed the secular and the generals in Turkey. He supports Iran by trading with them. He supports Hamas and other terrorists. He asks Assad to invade Israel after Israel attacked their jeeps. He is not what you think he is. And the media that are still working in Turkey are either working for their ultimate goal indirectly. Or they are propaganda workers. Make no mistake. Turkey is no longer secular. Iran is no longer secular. Wake up or be prepared to go to another oven in different time.
25. Turkey...the name of the country says it all!!
Ben ,   Israel   (03.25.13)
26. Imagine the moment when Erdogan heard the apology
Petros ,   Berlin   (03.25.13)
Imagine the moment when this selfish Islamist heard an APOLOGY from Israel's highest official. It was like a reward for a man who two weeks before said Zionism was a crime against humanity, or hosted Hamas and Hezbollah leaders to Istanbul. Turks are laughing in all Forum that in their ignorant view brought "Israel to its knees" We do not know why Netanyahu did it. He may have a reason, so be all patient.
27. Erdogan won votes by speaking against EU and Israel.
Petros ,   Berlin   (03.25.13)
Turks are really proud of Erdogan's anti Israel stance. Turkish people are Islamic oriented despite secular governments decades before. Turkey has a history of not being sensitive with genocide issues as it did 4 of them and never apologized, and do not have a bad opinion of Nazi Germany as their governments during that time signed pacts of peace with them and had never helped the allied forces. It sound completely ridiculous but is true. Relations between Turkey and other countries are based on the fact that Turkey has a growing economy. Nothing more. So I do not thing friendship between Cyprus, Turkey, Greece and Israel will be easy. Maybe we should wait in few years time.
28. 22 haifaguy and david
anton ,   istanbul   (03.25.13)
i dont know how you come to the idea of me having big ego :) example being your claim, i really laugh to comments that are far from truth didint i say apolody is not needed and even thou its given it doesnt effect your national dignity, the reactions are obviously stemming from anger but its funny and to most turks this apology is as important as ugandas idi amin :) david hope you r okey i dont claim erdoğan behaves better than perez in fact i agree with you perez is probbaly the one of the best statesman around i dont see how we have arrrived on this issue :) sanada mutlu haftalar
29. #27 Invent baby invent
Obsessive ,   Turkey   (03.25.13)
US & Russia are always stopping our projects. For example "Project Nebuchadnezzar" gas pipeline between Austria-Germany-Turkey. Nabucco pipeline no more available :-(( They say kindly; Nord stream / South stream / South Caucasus pipelines are enough for you. Iran-Russia are preventing Trans Caspian pipeline. Is it fair??? No. I love Greek people. Greek people is my people but... Do we have to share the gas with "Trans Adriatic pipeline" with Anglosaxon Greece instead of Nabucco????? Why is lengthening the road??? WHY??? You know why! Aluminum was so important, that in 1942, eight German saboteurs landed from U-boats; four on Long Island and four just south of Jacksonville, FL on a mission to destroy Alcoa’s plants in Alcoa, TN, Massena and East St. Louis. As early as 1939, R. S. Reynolds (President of Reynolds Metals) traveled to Europe and saw the German military buildup. When he returned to the US, Reynolds urged Davis to triple capacity for aluminum production for aircraft, but Alcoa was slow to move. ****my purpose is just sharing an historical fact!!!!! Arabs are producing Aluminium ingots with record quantities thanks to enormous oil reserves & smelters but they prefer drinking mirra and sleeping on the sand because they are backstabbers!!!!! but we have paid nearly a billion dollar for the Syrian refugees. Turkey is supplying electricity for Lebanon with floating powership "Fatmagül Sultan".... In Israel, Turkish Zorlu Group is building natural gas cycle power plants, dams in Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ramat Negev, Migdal Ha’Emek, Eilat and now solar power plants. Russian, Caspian, Iranian (optional), Iraqi, Gulf, Egyptian, Greek Cypriot, Israeli gasses will pour into Turkey. Israeli Leviathan = 600 KM pipe 2 Turkey = Year 2016 = 425 BN M3 / 10 BN annual TR pot.consump. = 42,5 years = I LOVE ISRAEL <3 BUMMM COMBINATION KABOOOOMMM FUSION!!!!!!!!!!
30. The "apology" was all about
Stephen in New York   (03.25.13)
overflight rights. Isn't that obvious? All Turkey has to do is to do nothing to interfere with the Israeli highway in the sky.
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