The Israeli commandos were the only terrorists on board that ship. Israel was forced or bribed to apologize by Obama.

The Israeli commandos were the only terrorists on board that ship.

The Israelis were attacked before they ever got on that ship.

.

Seeing is believing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6sAEYpHF24

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LulDJh4fWI

In a related story Hamas has NOT apologized for launching one rocket (out of 10,000) into Israel, sending any suicide bomber to kill civilians, or any murder of civilians.

Steven B, that is quite the one sided account, don't you think ?

First of all, the stun grenades thrown at the Israeli commandos came from the Israeli commandos. They were being thrown back at them.

Second of all, the Israeli commandos were firing paintball rounds and tossing stun grenades onto the ships before even boarding. The United Nations Human Rights Council report claims that the Israeli's were firing live rounds before boarding as well.

At the end of it all 9 protestors were dead with point blank shots to the head and some were shot in the back. Two of which were shot to death after they were severely injured and unable to fight back.

I will certainly agree that it seemed some of the protestors aboard the Mavi Marmara were looking for confrontation, but the Israeli soldiers had been trained in preparation of this beforehand and were told to expect resistance and minor violence.

gary rath-"The Israeli commandos were the only terrorists on board that ship. Israel was forced or bribed to apologize by Obama."

Hi Gary...wondering if you saw the two you tube video links. I've seen them before and there was actually more stun grenades thrown by the activists that were not on this video. Again, many folks on these posts speaking what's in their gut from anger rather than what's in the facts. If a ship with illegal intent (drug runners) came into California and the National Guard attempted to board and a stun grenade, thrown by a drug runner, hit a Coast Guard member and killed him...do you think our President would be apologizing to the Mexican Dictator.......I just remembered....probably so because we still have "big Ears" in the White House.

I do agree with Steven B. though. Turkey should acknowledge that terrorists were on one of the ships in the flotilla and caused the loss of life.

FtBrgtrnd

In a related story Hamas has NOT apologized for launching one rocket (out of 10,000) into Israel, sending any suicide bomber to kill civilians, or any murder of civilians.

Like Steven B, this is also quite one sided. When has the Israeli government ever apologized for doing the same ?

In another related story, Israel dispossesses 700,000 Palestinians from their homes, land and resources, and expects none of them to react with violence with the SS boot crushing their necks.

You are correct skunk...Israel very seldom will apologize, however, FtBrgtrnd comment is a good one. Israels' response to hamas rockets is usually calibrated to the location of where they were fired. Casualties happen when the hamas terrorists place women and children in the same buildings where they fire the rockets, knowing that the women and children are being used as shields. Wrong in the eyes of westerners and right in the eyes of most Muslims in that region. Hamas is a terrorists organization and no matter what they do, if Israel responds, Israel is considered the attacker.

Chief, I think that's a bit overstated. It's practically impossible to fire rockets into Gaza without injuring numerous civilians. The entire Gaza Strip is slightly smaller than Philadelphia, with over 100,000 more people than Philadelphia. I can't think of anywhere in Philadelphia where a rocket could hit that wouldn't kill and injure many civilians.

I'm not defending the actions of Hamas and Fatah, they are certainly bad, but just because one side is bad, doesn't make the other side good.

And let's not forget the primary way that the state of Israel was created was through terrorism.

I just watched a great documentary, 5 Broken Cameras, it shows how Palestinian farmers are treated by the IDF.

Implacable patriot: I checked on your possible article reference online. It also stated,

"Jordan is the only Arab state to grant citizenship to the Palestinians who live there. Palestinians in Arab states generally do not enjoy the same rights as the citizens of those states."

You have been very selective in what you posted. Sounds like the Arab states are not nice to Palestinians.

Patriot, you are absolutely correct and also remember that many of these from this exodus were voluntary due to war , and it is the position of most Arab governments not to grant citizenship to the descendants of Palestinian refugees born within their borders, even though many have known no other home. Again the U.N. has sided with the Palestinians yet what about this....It is estimated that 800,000 to 1,000,000 Jews were either forced from their homes or left the Arab countries from 1948 until the early 1970s; 260,000 reached Israel between 1948 and 1951, and 600,000 by 1972 and the U.N has no recognition for all of these.

Also one must remember that it was the Arabs who attacked Israel in the six-day war in 1967. The Golan Heights, West Bank and the Gaza strip are the result of what happens when countries attack another without provocation and get their butts handed to them. I little like Japan in 1941 and the U.S. on September 2, 1945.

Supersunk

When has the Israeli government ever apologized for doing the same ?

Other than today, and hundreds of other times, never. There are Israelis in jail in Israel for killing Palestinians. There are statuesof Palestinians in Palestine commending those Palestinians for killing Israelis. There are NO Palestiniansin Palestinian jails for Killing Israelis.

Implacable Patriot

In another related story, Israel dispossesses 700,000 Palestinians from their homes, land and resources, and expects none of them to react with violence with the SS boot crushing their necks.

Are you referring to the 700,000 Palestinians who exited Israel voluntarily in the hopes that Israel would be eliminated by Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Iraq? The ones who were disenfranchised by these same states who grabbed Gaza, Sinai, Jerusalem and the West Bank, leaving the Palestinians in refugee camps?

The Chief

At least some one took AP World History and understands it. Thank you.

Superskunk:

Watch the damn youtube videos. The thugs on the ship knew they were entering into illegal waters, and knew that Israeli soldiers would come onboard to take over the ship. The Israelis told them so in advance.

As has been well documented, photographed and videotaped, those thugs had knives, batons, handguns, and other weapons that may seem primitive next to a commando's M-16, but are certainly very effective at killing people in close quarters.

The videos CLEARLY show that the thugs attacked the commandos as they were boarding the ship, thus instigating a fight the Israelis didn't want. Nobody died on any of the other ships - ever care to wonder why??

It's unfortunate people had to die, and if Israel knew that they would be violently confronted, they would have approached the situation differently and likely there would not have been any fatalities. They were entirely unprepared, and as such an uncontrolled fight broke out and casualties occured on both sides. I cannot believe that Netanyahu should apologize for the soldiers not being able to defend themselves (Turkey should apologize for sending violent thugs over in the first place!), but I guess that's what Obama pressured him into doing for the sake of supposed peace.

Your totally misleading and even outright fraudulent descriptions of what happened just doesn't work here b/c there are actual videos on YouTube showing what happened.

Please take your propoganda elsewhere.

Did we ever get one on the sinking of the USS Liberty in that false flag attack?

USS Liberty was attacked in international waters by Israeli forces on June 8, 1967, killing 34 Americans and wounding another 174.

ReasderinNorthTexas

You have been very selective in what you posted. Sounds like the Arab states are not nice to Palestinians

You make a very strong point. People on this Vine express opinions with one side facts, and they never look at intent.

For instance, both the Israeli's and Palestinians have killed civilians. So the supporters of the Palestinians will point that out. However, Palestinians TARGET Israeli civilians while Israelis kill Palestinian civilians when Palestinian terrorists are targeted. And those Palestinian terrorists hide among civilians. I will add that Palestinian terrorists are often Hamas, Hezbollah and the past iterations of the PLO and Fatah.

LynardSky

The Liberty was a terrible mistake and tragedy that both the US and Israel investigated thoroughly. Israel apologized for it. The attack took place in waters just outside of Israel during the 67 war in which Israel struggled to survive. It was a tragedy and I mourn the loss of US military. But there was no intent to attack US assets. I have visited a local monument to the Liberty and does not blame Israel, nor did the soldiers who attended during the dedication.

Steven B......you said:

Quote......Had the terrorists on the Mavi Marmara not attacked the Israelis, there would not have been any killing......EndQuote

As has often been said: "One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter."

It could just as easily be said that if Israel had not imposed a blockade over Gaza, "there would not have been any killing".

As we all know, this tit for tat goes all the way back to the original "return" of Zionists early in the last century which culminated in the declaration of a Jewish "State of Israel" in Palestine and all that followed.

But, this much can be said (about the Mavi Marmara incident) without debate: If Zionism did not exist, "there would not have been any killing".

So, who bears ultimate responsibility? Certainly, no Palestinians invaded any distant Jewish land.

Israelis kill more than 10 times as many civilians as do the Palestinians. The Palestinians don't target anyone. Their rockets and mortars have no guidance. I am quite sure that they would much prefer to hit military targets, but since the Israeli military makes sure they are out of range of the Palestinian's puny weapons, it is next to impossible to hit a military target.

On another note: I hope the Turks tell Bibi, to shove his apology where the sun don't shine.

Ralph t

ell that to the people of Sderot. They have sustained 1000's of rockets in their non military village. You really should try to understand the obvious, rather than falling for the skewed.

Lynyrdsky:

Actually, the Israelis did publicly apologize for that incident AND paid out substantial reparations to the US government, even though the official US government position on the situation basically was that it was an accident (although certainly negligence played a role as well). The USS Liberty is one of those ridiculous talking points made by either uneducated idiots or people with an agenda to sell. It happened 45 years ago, Israel apologized for what happened and paid reparations. Furthermore, the US Government itself ruled it to be a case of mistaken identity. What more can you want?

IanEmbdee:

Your tit-for-tat argument makes zero sense. I don't feel like explaining myself b/c it would be a waste of time if you weren't able to figure that out for yourself in the first place.

nittyahoo is like a snake and speaks with forked-tonue, his apology means nothing.

if he is sincered, he should turn over the idf thugs that did the murdering to the turkist authority for prosecution.

Steven B, that is quite the one sided account, don't you think ?

No. What part of 'no other vessels in the flotilla attacked the Israelis, and they did not have to fight back.

It could just as easily be said that if Israel had not imposed a blockade over Gaza, "there would not have been any killing".

It could be said, but it would be incorrect. The correct statement is: Israel left Gaza in an attempt to 'give up land for peace'.

Israel only has trouble with Gaza. Not Syria. Not Egypt or Jordan, who both enjoy the benefits of peace with Israel. Not the West Bank, who appear to truly want peace and autonomy.

Gaza is in the grip of Hamas, who are sworn to never recognize Israel and kill every Jew.

That's straight from the Hamas Charter.

.

Israelis kill more than 10 times as many civilians as do the Palestinians.

It's not for want of trying on the part of Hamas & Co.

.

Steven B

Good points

I will add that Egypt was a safe border until the Muslim Brotherhood took over, now there is a big question. The Israels have already strengthened their southern border and they know the Rafah crossing in not as controlled.

Also, the blockade was imposed to save lives by keeping weapons out of Gaza. It was fairly effective. That is why the Israelis had to stop the Flotilla. That is why Rafah is an issue.

You are spot on with the last statement. Hamas INTENDS to kill cvilians, they target civilians. Just because their weaponry sucks doesn't put them in a "good guy" class. They will murder with whatever they have.

Lynyrd (#1.14) Attacks against US by "others" (primarily Muslim)

"September 11, 2001 - Terrorists hijack four U.S. commercial airliners taking off from various locations in the United States in a coordinated suicide attack. In separate attacks, two of the airliners crash into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, which catch fire and eventually collapse. A third airliner crashes into the Pentagon in Washington, DC, causing extensive damage. The fourth airliner, also believed to be heading towards Washington, DC, crashes outside Shanksville, PA., killing all 45 people on board. Casualty estimates from New York put the possible death toll close to 5,000, while as many as 200 people may have been lost at the Pentagon crash site.

Oct. 12, 2000 - A terrorist bomb damages the destroyer USS Cole in the port of Aden, Yemen, killing 17 sailors and injuring 39.

Aug. 7, 1998 - Terrorist bombs destroy the U.S. embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. In Nairobi, 12 Americans are among the 291 killed, and over 5,000 are wounded, including 6 Americans. In Dar es Salaam, one U.S. citizen is wounded among the 10 killed and 77 injured.

In response, on August 20 the United States attacked targets in Afghanistan and Sudan with over 75 cruise missiles fired from Navy ships in the Arabian and Red seas. About 60 Tomahawk cruise missiles were fired from warships in the Arabian Sea. Most struck six separate targets in a camp near Khost, Afghanistan. Simultaneously, about 20 cruise missiles were fired from U.S. ships in the Red Sea striking a factory in Khartoum, Sudan, which was suspected of producing components for making chemical weapons.

June 21, 1998 - Rocket-propelled grenades explode near the U.S. embassy in Beirut.

July 27, 1996 - A pipe bomb explodes during the Olympic games in Atlanta, killing one person and wounding 111.

June 25, 1996 - A bomb aboard a fuel truck explodes outside a U.S. air force installation in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. 19 U.S. military personnel are killed in the Khubar Towers housing facility, and 515 are wounded, including 240 Americans.

Nov. 13, 1995 - A car-bomb in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia kills seven people, five of them American military and civilian advisers for National Guard training. The "Tigers of the Gulf," "Islamist Movement for Change," and "Fighting Advocates of God" claim responsibility.

April 19, 1995 - A car bomb destroys the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people and wounding over 600.

February 1993 - A bomb in a van explodes in the underground parking garage in New York's World Trade Center, killing six people and wounding 1,042.

Dec. 21, 1988 - A bomb destroys Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. All 259 people aboard the Boeing 747 are killed including 189 Americans, as are 11 people on the ground.

April 1986 - An explosion damages a TWA flight as it prepares to land in Athens, Greece. Four people are killed when they are sucked out of the aircraft.

April 5, 1986 - A bomb destroys the LaBelle discotheque in West Berlin. The disco was known to be frequented by U.S. servicemen. The attack kills one American and one German woman and wounds 150, including 44 Americans

In response, on April 15 the United States retaliated in an operation dubbed 'El Dorado Canyon.' Approximately 100 aircraft were launched in direct support of the raid. It was an attack against military targets involving land-based bombers from Great Britain together with carrier-based air strikes from ships in the Gulf of Sidra.

December 1985 - Simultaneous suicide attacks are carried out against U.S. and Israeli check-in desks at Rome and Vienna international airports. 20 people are killed in the two attacks, including four terrorists.

November 1985 - Hijackers aboard an Egyptair flight kill one American. Egyptian commandos later storm the aircraft on the isle of Malta, and 60 people are killed.

October 1985 - Palestinian terrorists hijack the cruise liner Achille Lauro (in response to the Israeli attack on PLO headquarters in Tunisia) Leon Klinghoffer, an elderly, wheelchair-bound American, is killed and thrown overboard.

August 1985 - A car bomb at a U.S. military base in Frankfurt, Germany kills two and injures 20. A U.S. soldier murdered for his identity papers is found a day after the explosion.

June 1985 - A TWA airliner is hijacked over the Mediterranean, the start of a two-week hostage ordeal. The last 39 passengers are eventually released in Damascus after being held in various locations in Beirut.

June 1985 - In San Salvador, El Salvador, 13 people are killed in a machine gun attack at an outdoor café, including four U.S. Marines and two American businessmen.

April 1985 - A bomb explodes in a restaurant near a U.S. air base in Madrid, Spain, killing 18, all Spaniards, and wounding 82, including 15 Americans.

November 1984 - A bomb attack on the U.S. embassy in Bogota, Colombia kills a passer-by. The attack was preceded by death threats against U.S. officials by drug traffickers.

October 1983 - A suicide car bomb attack against the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut kills 241 servicemen. A simultaneous attack on a French base kills 58 paratroopers.

April 1983 - A suicide car bombing against the U.S. embassy in Beirut kills 63, including 17 Americans.

Compiled by CDI Senior Analyst Chris Hellman, chellman@cdi.org"

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1087538/posts

...and since 2001:

"30 Terrorist Plots Foiled: How the System Worked"

http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2010/04/30-terrorist-plots-foiled-how-the-system-worked

No avoiding the obvious - The Muslims are the master terrorists.

the declaration of a Jewish "State of Israel" in Palestine and all that followed.

Israel, with Jerusalem as the focal point pre-dates the origin of the word "Palestine" by millenia.

The West Bank was known as "Jordan" prior to 1967.

Gaza was known as "Egypt" prior to 1967.

A "Palestinian" is a fabrication cooked up by Yassir "the Egyptian" Arafat.

.

Did we ever get one on the sinking of the USS Liberty in that false flag attack?

Two distortions in one sentence! Very good!

First, Israel did apologize.

Second, it was a mistake of friendly fire.

We bombed and killed our own Lt. General Leslie McNair. We've used Apache helicopters to shoot up our own armored vehicles. The Vincennes shot down an Iranian passenger jet, killing hundreds.

In the fog of war, bad things happen.

.

Von Dorf (#1.20) Where are you these days? Still hiding in South America, or have you already moved to Teheran?

Indeed StevenB (#1.25):

Where do the people who call themselves “Palestinians” really come from; this, from the
Palestinians themselves.

The link below is to a clip from an interview on Egyptian TV with Fathi Hamad, the Minister of the Interior of the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbuM91PeSOs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZtiUdl9Cd0

The True Face of Islam : Amanpour: Hamas founder's son Hassan Yousef : I spied for Israel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J70x3LjgdkU&feature=related

Reader in North Texas (#1.10); The Arab countries are not the only ones who are not nice to the Palestinians. The Plaestinians are not nice to the Palys.

"Hanan Ashrawi routinely propagates the common but false claim that land not owned by Jews in Palestine in 1948 belonged to Palestinian Arabs. In fact, historically, under Ottoman and British rule, most of the land as government owned. According to statistics from the Survey of Palestine, hich was published in 1946 by British Mandate authorities, and later republished by the PLO-affiliated Institute for Palestine Studies, Jews owned 8.6 percent of the land and Arabs owned 28.6 percent. But the Arab total included Bedouin grazing land (8.4 percent) and waste land (13.4 percent), neither of which was legally ownable according to the prevailing Turkish and British land laws. Not counting Bedouin grazing land and waste land, Arab owned land totaled only 6.8 percent. But, even if one counts land in these categories as Arab owned, the majority of land in Palestine in 1948 was state land, which did not belong to Palestinian private owners. Because there was never a sovereign Palestinian Arab state, this state land cannot be said to have ever have been "Palestinian owned."

http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_article=864&x_context=2

http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_context=7&x_issue=21&x_article=775

On the same radio program, Ashrawi commented about reported Palestinian Authority demolitions of Palestinian buildings:

There have been no home demolitions by the Palestinians – by the Palestinian Authority –– neither under occupation by what he [radio caller] calls "Fatah hawks" or whoever, and there have been no home
demolitions even though there were certain houses that were built illegally. There was one case in which there was an attempt to remove one floor in Gaza that I know of. But according to all the reports we have seen, and I have been a persistent – not just follower of human rights, but an activist on behalf of
human rights – there were no house demolitions. ("The Connection," WBUR, Jan. 18, 2000)

The detailed press reports reproduced below contradict Ashrawi’s heated denials: The irony was probably not lost on Abdel Nasser Shaikh al-Aid when bulldozers driven by fellow Palestinians demolished the dwelling in Gaza where he lived with his family ("Refugee in Gaza Feels PLO Wrath," Times of
London, Jan. 31, 1994)

Aged and unsteady, propelled by rage, Fatima Abu Suayed seized her visitor’s arm and thrust him in to the scattered remains of her home.

Poor even by Gaza’s shrunken standards, she had lived with 13 relatives in a two-room shack of cinder block and battered sheet metal. One afternoon this month, police swept in and told the woman and her neighbors that had to leave Palestinian state property. Then a bulldozer plowed down more than
20 homes –– some of them, like Abu Suayed’s, with all the contents inside.

Among her losses was the only adornment on the flattened walls –– a portrait of Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Yasser Arafat.

"Our president!" she shouted, voice rich with contempt. "He comes here to kick us out! I ask God to punish those who destroyed this home! I ask God to punish them! I ask it every hour!" ("Palestinians in Gaza Vent Ire Over Arafat,"Washington Post, February 27, 1995)

Today the Palestinian Authority destroyed an illegal building used as housing for Bedouins in Tarkumei. The number of illegal buildings destroyed in recent months has risen. Bedouins say this is a provocation to violence. (Israel’s Channel 2, July 30, 1998)

For more examples of Ashrawi’s distortions which undercut her goal as quoted by Eldar to
develop a “more credible media discourse,” see CAMERA’s report “Hanan Ashrawi’s Propaganda.”

Basil - A number of groups have attacked US interests, as you pointed out, but none of them were state sponsored, with the exception of Lockerbie, which was ordered by Libyia

The major difference is that Israel is a country, which calls itself a friend of the USA and already was heavily dependent on the US for aid and weapons. Lyndon Johnson, a Jew, sent Israel emergency supplies in 1967, despite the attack on the Liberty, which saved Israel from defeat.

In my opinion, Johnson may have been known in advance their was to be a false flag attackon the Liberty. He was most likely in on the whole thing, in order to have an excuse for America to take out Egypt. Read what he said when he called back the fighters, which had been scrambled to aid the Liberty. Remember, this is an American president. He was an ardent Zionist. For Jews, Zionism triumphs over loyalty to ones country.

1639: Secretary of Defense McNamara again orders
rescue planes recalled; order is confirmed by President Johnson because
"we are not going to embarrass an ally." Naval Air Attaché at U.S.
embassy in Tel Aviv, Commander Ernest Castle, is summoned to Israeli Defense

1717: Deputy Secretary of Defense orders that
all news releases on attack are to be made in Washington. Soon after, Israeli
helicopter approaches Liberty and requests permission to land. McGonagle
refuses. Helicopter departs.

1729: Rear Admiral Lawrence Geis, commander of the
Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean, protests decision to recall rescue planes to
Secretary of Defense McNamara. At that point President Johnson comes on the
phone and says he didn't care if the ship sunk, he would not embarrass his
allies. Admiral Geis tells Lt. Commander David Lewis, head of the Liberty's NSA
group, of the remark, but asks him not to repeat it until after he dies. It is
a promise Lewis will honor.

To N who posted Israel paid reparations. They did, but the amount they paid was pennies on the dollar. They screwed us twice.

14 June 1967: Liberty arrives in Malta. Total
news blackout imposed. Rear Admiral Kidd warns crew: "You are never,
repeat never, to discuss this with anyone, not even your wives. If you do, you
will be court-martialed and will end your lives in prison or worse."
Secretary of Defense McNamara informs media that, "Department of Defense
will have no further comment."

1982: Israeli senior lead pilot approaches
former Congressman Pete McCloskey and admits that he recognized the Liberty as
American immediately, so informed his headquarters, and was told to ignore the
American flag and continue his attack. He said he refused to do so and returned
to base, where he was arrested.

6 November 1991: Columnists Evans and Novak
publish interview with Dwight Porter, U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon in 1967, in
which Porter says that during or immediately after the attack on the Liberty
the CIA station chief showed him transcripts of intercepted Israeli messages.
One has Israel ordering the attack on the Liberty, another has an Israeli pilot
replying it's an American ship. When the order to attack is repeated, the pilot
insists he can see the American flag. The pilot is told again: "Attack
it."

18 June 1967: Israeli Court of Inquiry
exonerates Israeli government and all those involved, saying that its torpedo
boats erroneously reported the Liberty's speed at 30 knots instead of 5, and
that the Liberty flew no flag and had no identifying markings. Later, Israel
will honor Motor Torpedo Boat 203, the one that fired the deadly torpedo at the
Liberty, by putting its wheel and bell on display in its naval museum, among
those maritime items of which it is most proud.

Wow, these are supposed to be our friends. despite all we give them, they spit in our faces time, after time. Stop all aid to the parasites in Israel.

The situation is,that unlike Israel,who is considered an "ally" of the US's,only because of the Jewish and pro-Israeli domestic (right-wing Christian) bloc's in our country. Turkey is a real ally of the United States,bound by the NATO treaty,and again unlike Israel,has actually fought and bled with us in war.

They are vital to the US in the Middle East. They are a large, populous country,vastly Muslim,that borders Iraq and Iran,and controls the entrance and exit of the Black Sea.And in the main,is a democracy. That we and Europe,like to hold up as a model to which other Muslim states should become.

But one of the problems,from our stand point with democracy,is that people get to vote how they want. And the Turks have voted for a mildly Islamic government. We should have seen that coming,after all we have our own ultra-Christian groups here that have taken over the Republican Party. Did we thing other countries couldn't do the same thing. With their Imperial past as the Ottoman Empire,the Turks are not overly fond of Arabs and Iranians. And that fact,in the past,fostered a good relationship between Israel and Turkey. But Israel forgot that while the Turks aren't Arab,they are Muslim. And how Israel expected that in a democracy,their trampling on Muslims in other countries wasn't going to turn the Turks against them,I don't know.

So we now have a situation that's a nightmare for us. If we support Israel in their quarrel with Turkey,we cut our nose off to spite our face.They could stop cooperating with us on security. Destabilizing the NATO Alliance,the base of American world-wide security.Especially for South-East Europe and the Middle-East.And if we side with Turkey.We face hell from the pro-Israel lobbies and their supporters in our own country.So yes,the President is trying to get Israel and Turkey to mend their fences and become friends again. I doubt it will work in the long-run.The only thing that would work is a change in Israels domestic policy,and that's unlikely without strong American pressure. Pressure,which because of pro-Israel support here in the US,we won't apply. So at best,both sides can smile at each other and pretend they've made up. Until Israels next anti-Muslim action enrages the Turkish population again,then all bets are off.

In another related story, Israel dispossesses 700,000 Palestinians from their homes

Unsubstantiated drivel.

.

Steven B......you said:

Quote.....A "Palestinian" is a fabrication cooked up by Yassir "the Egyptian" Arafat........EndQuote

Perhaps next, you will tell us that the people we have come to call "Palestinians" do not exist. And that, the land some call Palestine was always and forever the sovereign nation of Israel.

Explain to us: What is Zionism? Who are the people Israel has confined behind high walls with barbed wire? Why is it that the State of Israel celebrates its "birth day" in 1948? What was the "Balfour Declaration"?

Apparently, according to you, Israel never ceased to exist and no people (other than Jews) ever lived (peacefully) in the land now occupied by Israel. This is foolishness if you expect others to believe it.

Israel does NOT treat the Palestinians as they (the Israelis) would wish to be treated. That is fact.

Steven I think Implacable Patriot is referring to the 700000 that made a choice to leave their homes in Israel, as their Arab brothers told them to do. The assumption was that the Arabs would eradicate Israel. When the Arabs failed, Egypt grabbed Sinai and Gaza, Jordan grabbed the West Bank and Jerusalem and Syria grabbed Golan. But none of those Arabs gave a $hit about the Palestinians, so they left them in refugee camps as pawns, to use in the ongoing war against Israel.

Lar speaks the truth!

Lar-345817

Your history is correct, I only wish more people would go back to the beginning and get the facts. It is true both sides have done things that should not have been done but in order to move toward any peace agreement in the middle east Israel must start treating the Palestinians with more respect and Islamic terrorist groups like Hamas MUST stop the threats and the killing of innocents and that includes Palestinians and Israelis alike.

This article did show one thing that America has a President that truly understands diplomacy. The right wing traitors in our country are boiling mad right now because they have never produced a representative from their hate filled Republican party that can hold a candle to President Obama.

The move to repair relations between Turkey and Israel as he was leaving Israel was brilliant. Add to that the standing ovation our President received from Israelis yesterday when he said Israel must treat the Palestinians with dignity and and help them to create a democratic Palesinian state of their own. That is the first time ANY American president has made a statement like that and it received huge applause from Israeli citizens.......... Now that's political courage and all Americans should be proud.

I look forward to the day when Palestinians and Israelis start working together as real partners and finally put an end to this insanity once and for all........... After all they are just human beings like the rest of us and they all deserve to live in peace.

Big Al

I will temper my point this way. When I refer to the Palestinians, I refer to the Palestinian Arabs who lived in Palestine, and various Jordanians. There of course were Palestinian Jews too. They were able to get along for the most part, but starting in about 1910 the relationship began to sour as a result of the Palestinian Jews, and their Diaspora brother wanting and deserving a small country in Israel. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Arabs were continually incited by the leaders they chose, Fatah/PLO lead by Arafat, Hamas, Hezbollah, and various offshoots. The Palestinians have always been pawns and I do feel for them as a general population. But they need to stop supporting and voting for terrorists.

So in 1948 when Israel was created and the Palestinians were offered their own country (their first) they refused, incited by their Arab brothers. And to this day they have chosen their leaders badly and lost wars and land. And the Israelis still ceded land back to losers. Gaza to the Palestinians and Sinai to Egypt after beating Egypt in 73.

You are right they are just humans and have been used and manipulated by the terrorist dujour.

Lar wrote -So in 1948 when Israel was created and the Palestinians were offered their own country (their first) they refused,

Lar, the Palestinians had the whole f -ing country, it just didn't have recognition as a country. Why would they agree to give away half of all they owned, in return for getting recognized as a country? If the mayor of your city tells me one half of your land will now belong to me, as long as you recognize my right to exist on your former land, would you then say "hey, good deal". You can call what remains of your country Larland. Such a deal.

To the moron that earlier wrote that ther Arabs started the 1967 war, that is a lie. Israel started the destroying the Egyptian air force while it wa still on the ground. The Egyptians on the border were insufficient to initiate a war. Read quotes from former Israeli leaders.

“The former Commander of the Air
Force, General Ezer Weitzman, regarded as a hawk, stated that there was ‘no
threat of destruction’ but that the attack on Egypt, Jordan and Syria was
nevertheless justified so that Israel could ‘exist according the scale, spirit,
and quality she now embodies.’...Menahem Begin had the following remarks to
make: ‘In June 1967, we again had a choice. The Egyptian Army concentrations in
the Sinai approaches do not prove that Nasser was really about to attack us. We
must be honest with ourselves. We decided to attack him.’“ Noam Chomsky,
“The Fateful Triangle.”

Was the 1967 war defensive?

“I do not think Nasser wanted war.
The two divisions he sent to The Sinai would not have been sufficient to launch
an offensive war. He knew it and we knew it.” Yitzhak Rabin, Israel’s Chief
of Staff in 1967, in Le Monde, 2/28/68

Moshe Dayan posthumously speaks out on the Golan Heights

“Moshe Dayan, the celebrated
commander who, as Defense Minister in 1967, gave the order to conquer the
Golan...[said] many of the firefights with the Syrians were deliberately
provoked by Israel, and the kibbutz residents who pressed the Government to
take the Golan Heights did so less for security than for the farmland...[Dayan
stated] ‘They didn’t even try to hide their greed for the land...We would send
a tractor to plow some area where it wasn’t possible to do anything, in the
demilitarized area, and knew in advance that the Syrians would start to shoot.
If they didn’t shoot, we would tell the tractor to advance further, until in
the end the Syrians would get annoyed and shoot.

And then we would use artillery and
later the air force also, and that’s how it was...The Syrians, on the fourth
day of the war, were not a threat to us.’” The New York Times, May 11, 1997

Darn,you pro-Israelis sure do count on Americans not researching your lies. That works for you a lot I see. But anyone taking the time to google about the refugee situation would see your pants are on fire all the time.

In 1977, an executive committee member of the PLO Zahir Muhsein confirmed
that there is no such thing as a separate "palestinian" people of Arab descent.
In an interview with the Dutch newspaper Trouw in March 31, 1977, he stated the
following: "The palestinian people do not exist. The creation of a palestinian
state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel
for our Arab unity."

On April 7, 1967, Syria attacked Israeli agricultural equipment along the Sea of Galilee, using tanks, machine guns, and heavy mortars. The incident escalated into a full-scale aerial battle over the Golan Heights after Israel scrambled jets, resulting in the loss of six Syrian Air Force Mig21's to Israeli Air Force Dassault Mirage III's, and the latter's flight over Damascus. Tanks, heavy mortars, machine guns, and artillery were used in various sections along the 47 mile (76 km) border in what was described as "a dispute over cultivation rights in the demilitarized zone south-east of Lake Tiberiass." Earlier in the week, Syria had twice attacked an Israeli tractor working in the area and when it returned on the morning of April 7 the Syrians opened fire again. The Israelis responded by sending in armor-plated tractors to continue ploughing, resulting in further exchanges of fire. Israeli aircraft dive-bombed Syrian positions with 250 and 500 kg bombs. The Syrians responded by shelling Israeli border settlements heavily, and Israeli jets retaliated by bombing the village of Sqoufiye, destroying around 40 houses in the process. At 15:19 Syrian shells started falling on Kibbutz Gadot; over 300 landed within the kibbutz compound in 40 minutes.^[61] The United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) attempted to arrange a ceasefire, but Syria declined to co-operate unless Israeli agricultural work was halted.^[62]

Speaking to a Mapai party meeting in Jerusalem on May 11 Prime Minister of Israel Levi Eshkol warned that Israel would not hesitate to use air power on the scale of 7 April in response to continued border terrorism, and on the same day Israeli envoy Gideon Rafael presented a letter to the president of the Security Council warning that Israel would "act in self-defense as circumstances warrant".Writing from Tel Aviv on May 12, James Feron reported that some Israeli leaders had decided to use force against Syria "of considerable strength but of short duration and limited in area" and quoted "one qualified observer" who "said it was highly unlikely that Egypt (then officially called United Arab Republic), Syria's closest ally in the Arab world, would enter the hostilities unless the Israeli attack were extensive". In early May the Israeli cabinet authorized a limited strike against Syria, but Rabin's renewed demand for a large-scale strike to discredit or topple the Ba'ath regime was opposed by Eshkol. BBC journalist Jeremy Bowen reports:

The toughest threat was reported by the news agency United Press International (UPI) on 12 May: 'A high Israeli source said today that Israel would take limited military action designed to topple the Damascus army regime if Syrian terrorists continue sabotage raids inside Israel. Military observers said such an offensive would fall short of all-out war but would be mounted to deliver a telling blow against the Syrian government.' In the West as well as the Arab world the immediate assumption was that the unnamed source was Rabin and that he was serious. In fact, it was Brigadier-General Aharon Yariv, the head of military intelligence, and the story was overwritten. Yariv mentioned 'an all-out invasion of Syria and conquest of Damascus' but only as the most extreme of a range of possibilities. But the damage had been done. Tension was so high that most people, and not just the Arabs, assumed that something much bigger than usual was being planned against Syria.

Border incidents multiplied and numerous Arab leaders, both political and military, called for an end to Israeli reprisals. Egypt, then already trying to seize a central position in the Arab world under Nasser, accompanied these declarations with plans to re-militarize the Sinai. Syria shared these views, although it did not prepare for an immediate invasion. The Soviet Union actively backed the military needs of the Arab states. It was later revealed that on May 13 a Soviet intelligence report given by Soviet President Nikolai Podgorny to Egyptian Vice President Anwar Sadat claimed falsely that Israeli troops were massing along the Syrian border.In May 1967, Hafez al-Assad, then Syria's Defense Minister declared: "Our forces are now entirely ready not only to repulse the aggression, but to initiate the act of liberation itself, and to explode the Zionist presence in the Arab homeland. The Syrian Army, with its finger on the trigger, is united... I, as a military man, believe that the time has come to enter into a battle of annihilation."

In May the Arabs block the Straights of Tiran from Israeli movement.

On June 3, days before the war, Egypt flew to Amman two battalions of commandos tasked with infiltrating Israel's borders and engaging in attacks and bombings so as to draw IDF into a Jordanian front and ease the pressure on the Egyptians. Soviet-made artillery and Egyptian military supplies and crews were also flown to Jordan.

The Egyptian attack plan was code-named Operation Dawn, and was planned by General Abdel Hakim Amer. It called for the strategic bombing of Israeli airfields, ports, cities, and the Negev Nuclear Research Center. Arab armies would then invade Israel, and cut it in half with an armored thrust through the Negev

And that RALPH H are the facts of what caused the Six day war. If your going to speak the facts then lets talk about everything that pushed for Israel to push the button. Many have shown up on this post with good facts. I'm not Jewish or from Israel but I do know history and what took place at the United Nations before the six day war and Ralph you only mention what facts you like. Kind-a like reading the bible and only reading the sentence that you like even though is surrounded by so much that you don't...Thanks to Lar and Steven B to mention a few.

"Remember the U.S.S. Liberty" :-( !!!

the-Chief

Thank you for correcting Ralph Hammas, it does get tiring trying to teach history to people who choose not to learn but continuously post incomplete, manipulated quotes to forward a biased agenda.

seaskip

The Liberty was an accident, these things happen in the fog of battle, the Israelis have apologized and paid reparations, this was settled decades ago.

At least some one took AP World History and understands it. Thank you.

That might be the funniest thing I've heard all day. You're supposed to hyphenate it, His-Story. History in the American school system is selective at best.

If you don't mind could you present a dozen or so of these hundreds of apologies you claim ?

N-529260

Superskunk:

Watch the damn youtube videos. The thugs on the ship knew they were entering into illegal waters, and knew that Israeli soldiers would come onboard to take over the ship. The Israelis told them so in advance.

As has been well documented, photographed and videotaped, those thugs had knives, batons, handguns, and other weapons that may seem primitive next to a commando's M-16, but are certainly very effective at killing people in close quarters.

I've seen the videos, and they definitely show violence on both sides. There was definitely a small group on the Mavi Marmara looking for confrontation, but that doesn't justify the execution style killings by the IDF. Is it he protestors fault that a highly trained, equipped, and skilled group of IDF soldiers lost their composure and forgot their training and specific orders ?

There is NO documentation or evidence of the protestors having any handguns.

The bottom line is the IDF knew what to expect, trained for a month beforehand and were given specific instructions to act professional. These were trained soldiers with much stronger firepower who wound up killing some protestors by shooting them in the back and killing two that were so severely beaten they couldn't have possibly posed a threat.

I presented no propaganda, just facts, from BOTH sides unlike what some like yourself have presented.

There is NO documentation of evidence of "execution style killings by the IDF", that is indeed no more than propaganda.

Yes, they had superior training and fire-power, but they were also outnumbered 10 to 1, and they could not possible know that they will be facing a lynching mob and no "peaceful activists" which is what the anti-Israel crowd insists on calling them.

The soldiers landed into the middle of a mob, which means they were attacked from all sides, and it was not possible to see who is turned which way and who poses more threat.

However, what you should be able to see from the videos, is that most soldiers were trying to avoid shooting for as long as they could. There was a video on Al Jazeera, showing a guy repeatedly pounding a soldier with a lawn-chair, while the soldier is blocking him of with his gun, but not shooting.

@#1.27 go go romeo

Not in hiding, but busy in working to counter the evil influence AIPAC on US politics and expose the true identity of zionist people like you.

Yes, we all know that some of your lot got the jobs in their familiar field in South America, except instead of Jews you were exterminating natives, but I guess you miss us so much, you just had to look for a way to revive your old work. It must tear you up that we are not defenseless any more.

Eli100

There is NO documentation of evidence of "execution style killings by the IDF", that is indeed no more than propaganda.

From the UNHRC Report

"Deaths of 9 passengers and wounding of at least 50 other passengers

117. During the operation to secure control of the top deck, the Israeli forces landed soldiers from three helicopters over a 15-minute period.71 The Israeli forces used paintballs, plastic bullets and live ammunition, fired by soldiers from the helicopter above and soldiers who had landed on the top deck. The use of live ammunition during this period resulted in fatal injuries to four passengers,72 and injuries to at least 19 others, 14 with gunshot wounds. Escape points to the bridge deck from the top deck were narrow and restricted and as such it was very difficult for passengers in this area to avoid being hit by live rounds. At least one of those killed was using a video camera and not involved in any of the fighting with the soldiers. The majority of gunshot wounds received by passengers were to their upper torsos in the head, thorax, abdomen and back.

118. Israeli soldiers continued shooting at passengers who had already been wounded, with live ammunition, soft baton charges (beanbags) and plastic bullets. Forensic analysis demonstrates that two of the passengers killed on the top deck received wounds compatible with being shot at close range while lying on the ground: Furkan Doğan received a bullet in the face and İbrahim Bilgen received a fatal wound from a soft baton round (beanbag) fired at such close proximity to his head that parts such as wadding penetrated his skull and entered his brain. Furthermore, some of the wounded were subjected to further violence, including being hit with the butt of a weapon, being kicked in the head, chest and back and being verbally abused. A number of the wounded passengers were handcuffed and then left unattended for some time before being dragged to the front of the deck by their arms or legs.

120. Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition both from the top deck at passengers on the bridge deck below, and after they had moved down to the bridge deck. At least four passengers were killed,73 and at least nine injured (five with firearms injuries) during this phase. None of the four passengers who were killed, including a photographer who at the time of being shot was engaged in taking photographs and was shot by an Israeli soldier positioned on the top deck above, posed any threat to the Israeli forces. "

you don't need to wonder your little head, go slop the hogs.

Hello folks, Israel, US and Turkey have a lot of skin in the outcome of the Syrian regime change plan.

Syria, Turkey, Israel and a Greater Middle East Energy War
by F. William Engdahl

“NATO is already clandestinely engaged in the Syrian conflict, with Turkey taking the lead as U.S. proxy. Ankara’s foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, has openly admitted that his country is prepared to invade as soon as there is agreement among the Western allies to do so.

The intervention would be based on humanitarian principles, to defend the civilian population based on the “responsibility to protect” doctrine that was invoked to justify Libya. Turkish sources suggest that intervention would start with creation of a buffer zone along the Turkish-Syrian border and then be expanded. Aleppo, Syria’s largest and most cosmopolitan city, would be the crown jewel targeted by liberation forces.”

Continue reading at the link below:

http://www.veteranstoday.com/2012/10/11/225863/

I want to know; if Turkey attacked Syria from the rear, would Greece help?

What the news won't report: Obama promised Israel apologize to TUrkey and USA tax payers will be responsible for the payoff for Turkey lawsuits . .. jews own USA

Stan-1077348

LMAO

Yes Gina, I wonder how much this is going to cost the US tax payers? Year after year, after year.

gina - If the "news won't report" then how do you know it? pulled out of your biased brain?

Thank you Turkey for holding out and making Nut -tan-yahoo "say Ucle". Not everybody wants to be Israel's lap dog like the U.S. Congress.

It's called diplomacy, Terry. Both Israel and the US need as many allies in the region as they can get. The more we have, the less influence hostile states like Syria and Iran can exert. Whatever you or any other knee-jerk Islamophobes think of their religion, we must cultivate an atmosphere of trust with our current and potential friends in the ME, for geopolitical reasons.

President Obama's strategy reminds me of that of the late baseball manager Billy Martin:

" I try to keep the half the the team that would like to kill me away from the half that hasn't yet made up its mind."

Or words to that effect. . .

No Eric the "not so" Well Read, it is called ass kissing.

Correct, Obama, like all Presidents since Truman, must take an oath of loyalty & subservience to The Zionist Entity. After all, Israel must be restored for the Bible story to play out and for Christ to return ... hahahahahahaha ... "North Texas" says it all

Humility is such a terrible quality.

Coincidentally, I'm not sorry I've never visited Texas.

Implacable Patriot

If you knew anything about 1948, you would know that Truman was very reluctant to recognize Israel, and the State Department was vehemently against recognizing Israel. Furthermore, it was illegal for any US citizen to give any aid to Israelduring their war of independence. This country s not subservient to Israel, it is a mutually beneficial relationship. The relationship is only subservient to anti Semitics.

This country s not subservient to Israel, it is a mutually beneficial relationship. The relationship is only subservient to anti Semitics.

Yes, it wasn't subservient in 1948. And it's not subservient now. Mostly because the so-called "Apologizer-in-Chief" does his job and worries first about the security of the country he is President of, not some small nation a few thousand miles away.

'The relationship is only subservient to anti Semitics.' You've done it Ft.

First, Imp. Patriot was being satirical and slightly absurd in order to make a point. I'm not surprised that was lost on you. And second, it really is convenient that Anti-Semitism has such a wonderful example in history. It serves to make the label especially poignant and really goes quite far to censor dissent.

You tools are aware how infrequent these visits are, right???

Harry Truman: no visit

Dwight Eisenhower: no visit

John Kennedy: no visit

Lyndon Johnson: no visit

Richard Nixon: sixth year of presidency

Gerald Ford: no visit

Jimmy Carter: third year of presidency

Ronald Reagan: no visit

George H.W. Bush: no visit

Bill Clinton: 4 visits—in the second, third, fourth and sixth years of his presidency

George W. Bush: 2 visits—in the eighth year of his presidency

Not only didn't Ronald Reagan didn't go. He went to Germany and laid a reef at a grave of a WW2 soldier. Zig Hiel North Texas.

Texas. Figures. I thought Texas seceded. Please leave. The governor must be hanging around to suck up more stimulus money.

#4.1

Is this an example of liberal 'tolerance, inclusion and understanding'?

#4.3

Ah, the Commonwealth of Taxachusetts.

Where anyone named "Kennedy" can do what they wish, even killing their sexretary.

Where the 'we hate the south for their discrimination' folk almost burned down their town when Arthur Garrity started desegregating the public schools.

.

.

Great Chinese food, though.

#4.7

And out of all the people you mention, how many insisted on Israel returning to her pre-1967 borders?

.

.

.

Obama did not tell Israel to return to the pre-1967 borders. He said they should make land trades. The 1967 borders are the ones recognized by the entire interrnational community, including the USA. If you can read Engish, Steven, read this:

World opinion on the legality of Israeli control of the West Bank and Gaza.

“Under the UN Charter there can
lawfully be no territorial gains from war, even by a state acting in
self-defense. The response of other states to Israel’s occupation shows a
virtually unanimous opinion that even if Israel’s action was defensive, its
retention of the West Bank and Gaza Strip was not...The [UN] General Assembly
characterized Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza as a denial of self
determination and hence a ‘serious and increasing threat to international peace
and security.’ “ John Quigley, “Palestine and Israel: A Challenge to
Justice.”

Israel stands alone on the issue of the borders. They have defied the international laws, which prohibit conquest of another nation or peoples land.

Obama did not tell Israel to return to the pre-1967 borders.

Sorry there Ralphie-boy....I'll believe CNN before I believe you:

http://articles.cnn.com/2011-05-19/politics/obama.israel.palestinians_1_israel-palestinian-conflict-borders-settlements?_s=PM:POLITICS

Obama calls for Israel's return to pre-1967 borders

GAZA STRIP

May 19, 2011|By Tom Cohen, CNN

Reader in North Texas

The Apologizer-in-Chief needs to apologize for his having waited 5 years to visit Israel.

Did you want Bush to apologize for waiting longer to go? He didn't go until his 8th year.

Daria Place shouldn't be too far from you if you're also in North Texas. Why don't you go drive by and chastise him some. After all, if 5 years was too long I can only imagine how you feel about an 8 year wait.

ralph - You love to lie so blatantly so. It must be a radical islamist thing. Iranian master of yours, ahmadinejad, already is on record saying he could not care less about palestinians. He just want a unified front against Israel. He is just using the palestinian issue, and stupid people follow it because it is the anti jewish thing to do. How stupid.

What happened? What weapons did they attack the Israelis with?

Maybe you're FOS Implacable Patriot

Yeah right, me and the rest of the sane world.

What is this 'FOS'?

Maybe the Israelis are beginning to realize that being a rogue nation, a pariah apartheid state, will not serve them in the long term.

To be honest, I was stunned. Republicans mockingly call Obama 'the Messiah.' Maybe they are not so wrong, after all. He actually managed to get one of the most obstreperous leaders of a famously obstreperous nation to apologize? Wow. Just wow.

Or may be they decided to cut Turks some slack on the account that those are not longer allied with Iran.

That is hardly enough to earn anyone a "Messiah" status.

... and my white sheet with the pointy hat ... and grits ... umm umm ... I luvs me my grits.

hardcoffeeeat6am....your so dead on again. Thanks for the chuckle.... I can see "Big Ears" swinging his imaginary golf club while the Israeli Prime Minister is on the phone saying ...Obama said I must apologize to you and so......"sorry dude"

Damnyou...he probably said that too.. he's known for his incredible Jedi Mind Tricks.

Spot on! Erdogan needed an Israel's apology so he didn't look like a fool for normalizing relations with Israel. Netanyahu gets a free pass domestically with the weasel words in the apology and the impression that Obama made him do it.

Note: Israel’s ELTA Systems Ltd., a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries just sold $200M worth of equipment to the Turkish Air Force for the four Turkish Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWAC) aircraft. The equipment will counter the treat of Syrian jets. Enemy of my enemy is....

Al, It all does, in fact, smack a little of Asian philosophy -- called "saving face." Maybe they each wanted to get past it and get it out of the way, but couldn't do it because of perception within their countries. So, after two years of a standoff, they had a "pressure point" they could use to finally deal with it. Again, though, as someone above said, --until the next time.

In a way it was Obama. I'm sure they really had to prod Netanyahu into it.

Merhaba Felexxolicious and I agree.

Istanbul is a great city to visit. And I like the cities down on the coast as well. Very nice people.

Well, not so in international waters.

Only pirates board ships and they take their chances in international waters.

Exception would be if there is an imminent danger (Such as Cuban missile crises) then you have a point.

Just because you do not want Palestinian slave's suffering are not exposed in the concentration camps, you cannot kill people.

Spot on.

First of all, Gaza is an independent sector, with five-star hotels, shopping malls and water-parks. ONly an idiot like Sickye would call it a concentration camp.

Second, when a terrorist group is attacking your country, searching any ship that wants to bring them some supplies is not piracy, it's a legitimate military action in order to defend your country. Even UN couldn't find anything illegitimate about it, and they don't like Israel any more than Sicky does.

Eli the misinformed Israeli,

How about I will give you an Armani suit, 750I BMW, but you cannot go anywhere because you are grounded, have to stay home indefinitely?

If you call israel killing activists "legitimate", then you are a certified idiot.

let me guess, you will call Bernie Madoff a financial genius?

I beleive the number of dead Iraq's are up to about 1 million. The number of lives destroyed by the Iraq war is tens of millions, the number of dollars made from profit by the architects of the war is tens of billions.

I agree. The real message on this board is how ignorant, uninformed, small minded, and hateful some people are. All the while they are patting themselves on the back for having all the answers to world's problems. Sad and pathetic lot.

I lived in the states for 22 years recently moved to istanbul and i have yet to see these islamists you claim to have taken over . Are they related to kevin bacon the hallow man in some way? But i am sure you are very well informed as to what happens here from 7000 miles away. Oh well ill keep looking for these islamists maybe i need 3-d glasses to spot em.

I can't understand why no one else has given Flexxolicious thumbs-up for his remarks. I'd much rather believe his Turk's-eye view than the Islamophobic ravings of so many uninformed and provincial posters and politicians here in the States. My guess is that militants in Turkey number far fewer than the fundamentalist Christians here, and that many hail from radical Islamic groups outside the country.

You shouldn't have to look too far--

Turkey: Islamism's Consequences for the West

The "good times" between Turkey and the West seem to be over. As the Erdogan years in Turkey have attempted to turn Turkey from a once-secular country into a de facto Islamist country, the West and Turkey seem to be on a collision course, or at best, an impasse.

http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/1537/turkey-islamism-consequences

flex - I know Turkey, I have been mostly to Izmir. You are blind until they come after you, IF you are a christian. Then you will come home with your tail foiled under.

Spot on. Also you have to realize Israel didnt just apologize out of the blue nor did obama ask them to do so just cause he felt like it. All these moves indicate that pretty soon here there will be war with iran, these are just the opening moves to the iranian war. With this move Obama ensures that united states military can enter Iran thru southeastern turkey. War is coming and i hope they wipe the floor with iranian snakes soon as possible.

Well I hope what it really means is that Red Line Bibi is starting to moderate his thinking and actions and start using all of his noodle rather than just the amygdala.

As for Iran, until BHO or Red Line Bibi sit down and consider the option of coaxing the Iranians to switch over to Thorium based nuclear reactor technology, and make that offer, I will not be at all convinced a war with the "snakes" is unavoidable or acceptable near term.

Why? apologizing is a good thing? We have apologized to the muslim world since 2009, and what is happening in their countries today? We extended a hand to Iran, what did we get? and the US has two oceans on both sides to protect her, not the same in Israel. So, stop with that apology thing.

"Farideh" with the desperate pro-Zionist frequency of your rants, I am certain you are part of the failing hasbara effort. Tone it down a bit as US taxpayers are fed up.

Pseudo-Realist, speak for yourself only.

I am a US taxpayer too, and I intend on keep supporting Israel.

You mean bibi the MADCHEN...

From the U.N report The Israel version.

There were humanitarian supplies and construction materials on board three of the

vessels in the flotilla (the

Defne Y, 150 Sofia151 and the Gazze I). 152 No humanitarian

supplies were found on the remaining vessels.

153 Weapons and combat equipment were

found on board the

Mavi Marmara , including flares, rods, axes, knives, tear gas, gas

masks, protective vests and night-vision goggles.

154 No firearms were found on the Mavi

Marmara

,155 although the Israeli Commission was not convinced that pre-boarding

security measures ensured that firearms were not brought on board.

Here is the link. If you want to know what your talking about. Or you could keep making up facts as you see fit.

No firearms, but there were knives, clubs, slingshots and building materials that could be used for peaceful purposes, but could also be used for military ones.

I think you are correct on that, but I also think that Turkey needed to save face (this is a muslim thing) out of their sore relationship with Israel, and israel offered it. By the way, Israel just sold Turkey a huge amount of military hardware. Research it.

Israhell has nothing to sell but US taxpayer funded rebranded weapons and tools of torture. Get a life and quit posting so much shinola.

realist, you are either a muslim yourself, stupid and ill-informed, or simply have an axe to grind against jews or a combination of all.

what REALLY is your beef with israel that you support terrorists and malign our only true ally in the region? c'mon, be honest now.

THINK WISE, YOU ARE AN ANTI-SEMITIC IDIOT-SEE BELOW:

ISRAEL'S RESPONSE TO KATRINA:

Israel: Offered field hospitals and hundreds of doctors, nurses, technicians and other experts in trauma, natural disasters and public health.^[30]

• An Israeli airlift arrived in Little Rock, Arkansas with an eighty-ton shipment of humanitarian aid, including baby food, diapers, water, ready-to-eat meals, clothes, tents, blankets, mattresses, stretchers, first aid kits, wheelchairs, and other medical supplies.
• The Magen David Adom began "United Brotherhood Operation," which sent a plane-load of supplies and financial assistance.
• IsraAid sent a delegation of medical personnel, psychologists, and experienced search-and-rescue divers. The 18-member team — which included physicians, mental health professionals, trauma specialists, logistics experts and a special unit of Israeli police divers — arrived in St. Bernard Parish and Plaquemines Parish on Sept. 10 and spent a week and a half assisting fire department search-and-rescue squads and sitting in on daily planning meetings that included local leadership and a complement of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), police, military and fire representativesmedical team.^[31]
• Five universities in Israel welcomed displaced American students from the affected areas and invited both undergraduate and graduate students to continue their studies in Israel.^[32] In particular, medical students unable to attend the Tulane University in New Orleans can attend Tel Aviv University's Sackler School of Medicine.^[33]

logico----Thank YOU for that. I should have researched better.

You are right. US is paying a heavy price for supporting brutal failed states like Israhell and Pakistan while China rules the world now. Ill-guided US policies and needless warmongering has ruined the US economy, tarnished its global image and pushed China to the top. It is interesting that today's gallup poll points to the fact that the US is even more unpopular globally now than under Bush. Muslim and Arab perceptions of US are even worse. This at a time when US economy is literally being wiped out and Russia-China build the strongest military economic alliance. China and Russia combined with their natural wealth, manufacturing base and technology with close to 1.6 billion people will be the strongest power block the world has ever seen.

It is imperative that the US reassess its suicidal support for failed fanatical religious based lunacies like the doomed Zionist entity and terror central Pakistan. As deadbeat taxpayers most Americans are fed up with doling out billions to these worthless failed states while 60 million Americans live on food stamps and the manufacturing base is being wiped out.

Do you think that by throwing "Israel and Pakistan" in the same sentense makes your lies acceptable? Pakistan hides terrorists, attacks Americans, supports the Taliban and extort us for money or cuts off supplies to Afghanistan. Israel has enabled you to use your computers to spaw hatred and stupidity, on top of anti semitic ignorance.

None of you have gone through persecutions, and none of you know what it is being affraid of every sound of "alahu akbar" at night. Get lost. Better yet, get an education.

By the way "think wise" (what a name), did Saudis come to our help? or the Kuwaitis that our soldiers died for in 1991? or any of the oil rich, Rollos Royce driving desert kings? why don't you expect that? they are not jews so you can't bash them?

@#27.4

pakistan may hide terrorists but the country is not involving attacking other soverign states like the terroist state of israel.

Yes israel is a terrorist state and its government officials are all terrorists.

Most of the posters critical of israel due to their sympathy to the plight and suffering of the Palestinians, in a way similar to the world sympathetic to the plight of jews suffered during WWII.

How ironic the then oppressed people become the oppressor, learned their deady trade from the captors in the ghetto days.