Maybe NATO can restrain Turkey
Why NATO? Because while Turkey is clearly escalating the current standoff with Israel, its continued membership in the Western military alliance is what defense and diplomatic officials in Israel believe will prevent Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan from making a move that could lead to a military confrontation with another Western country.
This does not mean that Israel is not concerned with the possibility that the Turkish navy will send one of its advanced Barbaros frigates armed with Harpoon missiles, torpedoes and surface-to-air missiles to Israeli waters. The scenario is so frightening since it could potentially lead to war with Turkey that defense officials preferred Tuesday to not even talk about it in hypothetical terms.
On the other hand, it is not being ignored by Israel and as one senior government official said: “This is a direct challenge and threat to Israeli sovereignty, which even if it is unlikely cannot be taken lightly.”
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Kick ‘em out. When it comes to NATO, Turkey’s the answer to the age-old song “one of these things is not like the other.”
Red Cloud on September 7, 2011 at 5:46 PM
Wouldn’t it embolden Turkey and allow it to be more provocative because any action by Israel could trigger the mutual defense parts of the NATO treaty?
rw on September 7, 2011 at 5:48 PM
Israel’s best bet is to load up on canned goods and ammo and wait things out in its bunker. It’s doubtful any of the local punks will pick a truly serious fight with it so long as there are weaker bystanders around to be mugged. Oh, and watch the Republican debate.
Seth Halpern on September 7, 2011 at 6:06 PM
NATO proved itself a paper tiger in Libya, I doubt very much Turkey is the least bit intimidated by it.
Rebar on September 7, 2011 at 6:07 PM
NATO will do no such thing, as long as there is an EU.
hillbillyjim on September 7, 2011 at 6:07 PM
Those awful Turks setting up trouble just because Israel killed some unarmed Turkish trouble makers. THE NERVE!!!
lexhamfox on September 7, 2011 at 6:15 PM
Yes, that’s a great idea… it worked wonders for Cyprus…
ujorge on September 7, 2011 at 6:20 PM
Even the UN concluded the Israeli soldiers were attacked when they boarded and were right in using force to defend themselves.
And they boarded because, as the UN also concluded, they are operating a legal blockade that the activists were trying to violate.
amerpundit on September 7, 2011 at 6:20 PM
Congratulations!
You win the grand prize: free ad hominem!!!
You predictable twit.
hillbillyjim on September 7, 2011 at 6:24 PM
Oh, did I leave out slavish dolt? Sorry.
hillbillyjim on September 7, 2011 at 6:25 PM
@lexhamfox: That would explain why the Greeks are on alert and signing military deals with the Jews, right?
Seth Halpern on September 7, 2011 at 6:33 PM
I too think Israel had every right to forcibly stop the boats and enforce the blockade of contraband to Gaza and agree with the report which also said that the IDF used excessive force.
Tactical victories can also be strategic blunders and killing Turkish protesters was a strategic blunder of the first order.
lexhamfox on September 7, 2011 at 6:35 PM
The Turkish IHH is a Hamas/terror front group. Those were the folks that funded and staffed the blockade run in question. I feel for any dupes/useful idiots that got suckered into it but they did what they did and were caught on tape doing it.
No one is going to ‘restrain the Turks’. The AKP (Erdogan’s party) will ride this hobby horse as far as their Islamist base and the anti-Israeli Mideast ‘Street’ demand. The US/Nato will have zero say in that.
Dawnsblood on September 7, 2011 at 6:58 PM