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Reader comment on item: On Second Thought … Maybe that Israeli Apology to Turkey was a Good Idea

Submitted by NuritG (United States), Mar 29, 2013 at 17:29

In truth, this "huge victory" of Israel's apology exists only in Erdogan's mind. This apology formula that was finalized in a three-way phone call between himself, Netanyahu and Obama on Friday, March 22, was in fact put before Erdogan three months ago. Israel did not have to be persuaded to make this gesture and thus shelving the quarrel, as Erdogan claims, but it is Erdogan who refused to accept Israel's apology. In fact, Erdogan's hand was forced into reconciliation by Obama, the US president, just as Netanyahu's was. It is much swagger that the Turkish premier claims he is holding Israel on trial for making good on the conditions he laid down to her. In fact, Ankara is on trial in Washington: The next steps on the situation in Syria will be determined by President Obama and his choice between the Saudi-Jordanian-Abu Dhabi bloc and the Qatar-Turkish partnership for leading the Muslim-Arab front against Bashar Assad in Syria. But Erdogan prefers to keep his awkward position from becoming known to the Turkish public as well as Israel's response to Ankara's need for cooperation in essential fields.

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Reader comments (60) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
"Palestinians" and Islamists protest Herzog's Turkey visit, evoke that criminal 2010 Marmara - violent hate flotilla [1001 words]MartinMar 10, 2022 17:04279299
Twenty Years Later - Why Mavi Marmara Remains a Failure - There will be No Return to Auschwitz [142 words]M ToveyMar 11, 2022 14:39279299
Netanyahu Channels Obama [74 words]DaveJul 4, 2013 18:09207619
Erdogan Predictable [74 words]DaveJul 4, 2013 12:38207602
Somehow, some way... [66 words]There is NO Santa ClausMay 11, 2013 12:35205927
Netanyahu, what were you thinking? [66 words]ElianaApr 26, 2013 23:23205666
1under pressure of utopia [62 words]Scoot BrownApr 18, 2013 16:59205280
1Hopefully more people will see that islamists do not wish peace. [54 words]Phil GreendApr 16, 2013 21:05205230
1A good idea [36 words]yuvalApr 11, 2013 09:49205087
1it is a matter of culture [39 words]jacob sassoonApr 10, 2013 19:19205072
2I've been waiting for this. [115 words]DEBORAH THE JUDGEApr 9, 2013 11:48205043
11Ottoman bollocks. [816 words]Petros HouhoulisApr 4, 2013 02:54204938
2leadership not actively sought [559 words]MozereApr 5, 2013 10:24204938
A lot of Questions [396 words]AlexandrosDec 13, 2013 05:30204938
what is the Palestinian reaction? [47 words]mythApr 2, 2013 19:27204913
1Apologies [20 words]Keith BargerApr 2, 2013 16:13204910
4Sorry Daniel Pipes, I don't get this one [184 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
SoloApr 1, 2013 10:13204886
1Israeli thickness [97 words]David NatanelApr 6, 2013 03:14204886
Not "thick", no, but a definitely not a smart move [200 words]SoloApr 7, 2013 12:05204886
They are thicker than that [73 words]yuvalApr 11, 2013 08:35204886
Before and After [77 words]ASGApr 1, 2013 08:17204885
On Second Thought Maybe that Israeli Apolog to Turkey was a Good Idea [199 words]JudithApr 1, 2013 04:06204883
buy pride with lives [202 words]mythMar 31, 2013 07:23204860
The Apology to Turkey [107 words]Ilbert A. PhillipsMar 31, 2013 04:46204858
Being magnanimous doesnt get you far in the Middle East- they shouldve learnt this from the Gaza pullout [99 words]ShishirMar 31, 2013 01:42204853
Apology [138 words]Gunther H. SciffMar 30, 2013 22:43204850
2Sorry, I did not need the lesson. [48 words]Steve KleinMar 30, 2013 21:07204847
Great article [121 words]Admiral Peter KikareasMar 30, 2013 15:13204841
4Trouble comes from the North [229 words]Al SheeberMar 30, 2013 11:29204836
2to al sheeber [97 words]moMar 31, 2013 03:50204836
1Apology For Political Gain? [131 words]Ron AnderMar 30, 2013 09:09204829
Let us learn to eat carp for Thanksgiving. [425 words]Pincas JawetzMar 30, 2013 05:15204823
Turkey-Israel beyond apology [105 words]Nazim CairoMar 30, 2013 05:08204822
7You can never appease these guys enough [184 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
PrashantMar 30, 2013 03:21204821
Blunder => Reality check [9 words]Carey PageMar 29, 2013 20:49204814
1This Peace Pipe is worth worth $5-to-$6 billion per year [50 words]NuritGMar 29, 2013 18:00204812
3No benefit whatsoever, just like with Hamas [205 words]saraMar 29, 2013 17:48204811
2Gaza withdawal said it all [81 words]Ron GerskupMar 29, 2013 17:36204810
1Who needs whom? [186 words]NuritGMar 29, 2013 17:29204809
Concoction of Naiveté and taqiyya [108 words]NuritGMar 29, 2013 16:42204808
Lay down with dogs [298 words]SarahSueMar 30, 2013 01:22204808
clamoring for real leadership! [252 words]NuritGMar 30, 2013 23:11204808
2Erdogan is predictable [135 words]Stergios BakasMar 29, 2013 16:30204807
The world of diplomacy [53 words]Susan KMar 29, 2013 15:53204805
Israeli Apology and Turkish Reaction [33 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
RaviMar 29, 2013 15:34204804
"Good Idea" [6 words]George HaasMar 29, 2013 15:29204803
1HaShem chai [16 words]BessieMar 29, 2013 14:50204802
1On Second Thought … Maybe that Israeli Apology to Turkey was a Good Idea-Humility Is Not A Sign Of Weakness [242 words]Henry Afamefuna IlonaMar 29, 2013 14:02204798
You are wrong, Henry [29 words]SarahSueMar 30, 2013 01:46204798
1Islamist Turkey wanted an Apology? How about apologizing to the Armenian people. [23 words]EdwardMar 31, 2013 01:52204798
Personally - I thought of it differently... [54 words]RobertMar 29, 2013 13:52204797
Under the eye of God Himself [16 words]Abu NudnikMar 29, 2013 13:39204796
We are NOT surprised [81 words]EthanPMar 29, 2013 13:31204795
1Well presented [207 words]Ira FeinbergMar 29, 2013 13:20204794
What Apology?... [124 words]marciaMar 29, 2013 13:18204793
1It's not just a few words [93 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
MilhouseMar 29, 2013 13:13204792
A BARKING DOG DOES NOT BITE [147 words]JACQUES HADIDAMar 29, 2013 13:04204790
1On Third Thought [50 words]DavidMar 29, 2013 12:59204789
A bone in a dogfight [202 words]logdonMar 29, 2013 12:57204788
Erdo, the magnificient sultan! Apology. [35 words]Steven LMar 29, 2013 12:56204787

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