The relationship between Israel and Turkey has been deteriorating since Israel brutally attacked Turkish ships carrying emergency relief to Gaza under the Red Crescent. Israel killed nine in that assault, including a US citizen. Since Israel refuses to apologize for this war crime, Turkey intends to take the matter to the International Court of Justice.
Turkey is to challenge Israel’s blockade on Gaza at the International Court of Justice, amid a worsening diplomatic crisis between the once close allies. The announcement by Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu appears to rebuff UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon’s attempt to defuse the row over Israel’s armed assault on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in which nine people were killed.
Turkey dramatically downgraded its relations with Israel, cutting military ties with its former ally and expelling the country’s ambassador over his government’s refusal to apologise [sic] for the killings of eight Turkish citizens and a Turkish American last May.
Ban said today that the two countries should accept the recommendations of a UN report that examined the incident. The report found Israel had used "excessive and unreasonable" force to stop the flotilla approaching Gaza, but that it was justified in maintaining a naval blockade on the Palestinian enclave.
But Davutoglu later dismissed the report, stating it had not been endorsed by the UN and was therefore not binding.
"What is binding is the International Court of Justice," he told Turkey’s state-run TRT television. "This is what we are saying: let the International Court of Justice decide."
"We are starting the necessary legal procedures this coming week."… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Common Dreams>
Perhaps the UN report might have been enough, but the US, acting on behalf of Israel, vetoed it. Taking it to the International Court of Justice is the right thing for Turkey to do. Because Israel attacked the vessels of our NATO ally, the US is treaty bound to support Turkey, but has failed to do so.
19 Responses to “Turkey to Sue Israel”
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To hell with suing them just stop sending them 30 billion per year. We already between them and us have their borders and enemies pacified but then we do like to uphold the governments of terrorist nations if it suits our own desires.
Mark, this is Turkey suing them, not us.
I understand that but if we withhold the 30+billion per annum we send them we can save our NATO ally the time and trouble.
See my reply to Kathy.
turkey should indeed sue Israel to seek justice.
I agree that we should stop sending Israel and all other countries foreign aid. Who’s helping us after all our natural disasters right now? No one!
Patty, I have no problem with sending humanitarian aid, but no military aid to oppressive regimes.
We need to cut Israel off. They have become as arrogant, defiant, one-sided and uncooperative as the tea partiers.
I agree, Jack. We should have cut them off a long time ago. It makes no sense that the tea partiers always get defensive of Isreal. Especially since they don’t believe in helping Americans, much less their own.
The Netanyahu government certainly has.
That we continue to send aid unquestioned and seemingly without strings boogles the mind!
It’s about AIPAC. I support J Street.
I agree with Jack, of course. Israel should be cut off until:
1. Reparations are given to Turkey;
2. A formal apology is issued and;
3. Reparations are made to the families of the people of whom they killed.
Otherwise, let them fry with all those Arab countries around them. Hell will probably freeze over by then,
Your points are on target, Lisa.
Before you take action, perhaps you should read the Bible. We are to bless Israel or our blessings will be taken from us–and don’t ever doubt it.
Welcome, Kathy. 🙂
The Bible also admonishes us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. What greater blessing could we give Israel than to stop propping up an oppressive, belligerent regime that is determined to avoid peace, and restore aid when it is replaced by a government that is willing to negotiate a fair peace under the terms of the Oslo Accords? The gift of peace is the greatest blessing of all.
Amen! So eloquently put! I couldn’t have have said it better.
Thanks, Lynn.
I agree with the three points that Lisa G made, namely:
1. Reparations paid to Turkey by Israel;
2. A formal apology is issued by Israel; and
3. Reparations paid by Israel to the families of the people they killed.
This implacable government of Israel needs to stand up and take responsibility for its actions. It needs to honour the Oslo Accords which it signed, and take bold steps for peace for its own people, for the Palestinians, for the rest of the world. If Israel wants to live in peace, which I firmly believe its citizens do, then it must be the change that it wants to see in the world. By perpetually answering violence with violence, just means more dead. As Mahatma Gandhi said “An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.” There must be open and honest dialogue with the Palestinians. I support an independent Palestinian state, and had I been alive in 1948, I would have supported an independent Israel. Bury the hatred of the past and get on with living today and in the future.
Me 2