No Israel normalization without international probe, Turkish FM says

The freedom flotilla coalition as a product of transnational activism by Cenap Çakmak

Transnational activism has in many instances proven to be an influential and effective tool to cope with grave breaches of human rights and humanitarian principles as well as brutality posed by repressive regimes.

Turkeys emergence as a center power in the Middle East is a game changer

from Yahoo news

Turkish journalist Soli Ozel says the nature of Turkish-Israeli relations are changed forever, not just because of the deadly flotilla incident.

Israel hasbara fails again: Photos show Mavi Marmara passengers protecting, aiding Israeli soldiers

MOISI: Israel?s Dangerous Political System

from Project Syndicate

Many factors may account for the series of poor decisions taken by Israeli leaders in recent years. But the most important cause, the one that should be addressed before all others because it is eroding Israel?s very viability, is the near paralysis of the political system.

Israel: the third strategic threat, Eyal Weizman and Thomas Keenan

from open Democracy News Analysis – by Eyal Weizman and Thomas Keenan

Many details remain to be established about the Israeli commando assault on the Mavi Marmara – the lead ship in a flotilla intent on carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza strip – in the early hours of 31 May 2010. But whatever the investigation of the incident ultimately reveals, the killing of nine human-rights activists is indicative of a dramatic recent transformation in Israel’s relationship to such individuals and the organisations they belong to.

Have Israel?s political and military elite sunk into the depths of depravity?

from ORGANIZED RAGE by Mick Hall

On reading the reports given over the weekend by the survivors of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, after they were released from Israeli captivity, what struck me was how far into the depths of depravity Israel?s political and military elite have sunk. By unleashing their attack dogs on unarmed and innocent people who were delivering aid, they demonstrated that they believe they have a god given right to strike down all who stand in their way. Of course the sheer brutality of the Israeli marines will come as no surprise to the Palestinians, who have experienced such brutally from the IDF for the last 60 years. Nevertheless, I am certain the marines behavior will have shocked many ordinary folk in the EU and elsewhere in the world.

Turkey calls on Israel to accept probe into raid

from Yahoo news

Turkey’s foreign minister has called on Israel to accept an international probe into the deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla that killed nine Turks.

Turkey seeks to condemn Israel in security summit

from Yahoo news

A summit for a 20-member security group for the Asian region kicked off Monday in Istanbul with Turkey seeking to condemn Israel for a raid that killed nine Turks on a pro-Palestinian aid flotilla that had attempted to break the blockade on Gaza.

Israel Ambassador Rejects Flotilla Clash Inquiry

from NYT > Turkey by By ISABEL KERSHNER

Despite the ambassador?s remarks, there was still no formal announcement from Jerusalem on the matter.

That night on the Mavi Marmara

Turkey says Israel can’t ‘face the facts’ on Gaza raid

Turkey accuses Israel of ‘state terror’

Israel bans soldiers from visiting Turkey

Activist ‘was left to bleed’
Straits Times
… been left there to lay down on the ground and just bleed, and I can’t believe it,’ he told national broadcaster ABC from his hospital bed in Istanbul.

Turkey’s foreign policy moves raise concern in West and at home
Washington Post
(Adem Altan/agence France-presse Via Getty Images) By Mary Beth Sheridan ISTANBUL — The women wore veils. The men donned green Hamas headbands with …

Dispatch from an Israeli journalist in Istanbul – Haaretz Daily …
Arriving at Attaturk airport as the Gaza flotilla fiasco unfolds, I’m told I don ‘t need a visa – but that soon, Israelis won’t be let into Turkey at all.

USA: American student loses eye in West Bank protest

By Antoun Issa

While the world had its eyes fixed on the Gaza flotilla, another tragedy was unfolding not too far away.

Soon after news emerged of Israel’s deadly raid on the Turkish aid convoy, the Mavi Marmara, protests erupted across the world in condemnation of the assault.

Maghreb: Overwhelming Support for Flotilla Activists

By Hisham

The global outcry following the deadly Israeli attack on the Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla has been reflected on streets across the world and throughout the Internet, on social networks and personal blogs. In the Maghreb, bloggers debated this week’s events, and although views were overwhelmingly supportive of the sailing activists some discordant voices and alternative views can still be heard.

The Mavi Marmara Tragedy

Mavi Boncuk |The Mavi Marmara Tragedy

June 6, 2010, Washington, DC – The Turkish Coalition of America, which seeks to foster friendship, understanding and cooperation between the United States and Turkey, is gravely concerned over the still unfolding crisis between Israel and Turkey and its potentially severe repercussions upon the region, as well as its impact on US-Turkey relations.

Ankara welcomes UN panel proposal on Israeli assault

Palestine: ?I am afraid of the sea?

By Ayesha Saldanha

In reaction to the raid on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla on May 31, Gaza blogger Kawther Abu Hani has written a poetic post from the perspective of a child, entitled Sweets Don’t Drown.

On her blog Notes of the Night, Kawther writes:

As world debates Israeli assault on aid ship, Gaza left in misery

Anthony Cordesman on Israel and U.S. policy goals

The refrain familiar to all listeners to the “amen choir,” so aptly named by Bob Dole, is that Israel is a strategic asset for the U.S. This unqualified claim is then used to justify overlooking or excusing Israel’s behavior, as though it were exempt from international law, accepted standards of human rights or U.S. law (as in the Arms Export Control Act). Cordesman offers a variety of recent examples that easily falsify the claim that Israel is strategic asset for America. He then reminds the Israeli government that it needs to pay more heed to the interests of United States:

Tunisia: 33 Sarastic Tweets on the #Flotilla Attack

Turkish PM accuses opposition of supporting Tel Aviv

Diversions, splits, disagreements

After the bloody incident at sea in the eastern Mediterranean, it is now time for reflection. Time spent lambasting Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for his continuous roaring about the government of Israel (much more than anything else) could be better spent on analyzing what is happening in terms of rethinking relations between Israel, Turkey and the US.
Splits within the Israeli government, based on internal critique of the massacre, are a fact and, in the long run, may signal its collapse. Erdoğan, fully aware of the grave mistake in conduct by the Netanyahu cabinet, is keen on inflicting wounds on it in order to demolish whatever is left of its credibility. He aims either to force it revise its policies regarding Gaza or expose its stubbornness to the eyes of the world.
It is part of his strategy, disguised by a loud, angry voice.
Does this work internationally? According to the analysis of Hélène Flautre, the co-chairperson of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee, published yesterday in this paper, it does echo well within the EU, at least.

Strategist Friedman: Turkey could play role reconciling Palestinians

ÖMER TAŞPINAR – The anatomy of Turkey?s frustration with Washington

ŞAHİN ALPAY – Israel is headed for international isolation

İHSAN DAĞI – Israel?s Turkish predicament

Lose-Lose for Turkey and Israel

B?Tselem, the Israeli Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, reported these facts: via

It is amazing to me that Israelis still spout that their army is the most moral in the world.  We interviewed on camera Combatants for Peace, former members of the Israel Army, and in those interviews they stoutly challenged that myth.  Israel alleges that they never target children and civilians, yet in a militarism that brags of surgical strikes it?s amazing that Israel misses so much.  If the Israeli military were a software program or a pharmaceutical drug, they?d never make it to market

Turkish aid group fields criticisms

Morning Brief: Israel seems to reject international inquiry; navy kills militant divers in Gaza

Top story: Israel has still not issued a formal reply to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s proposal that an international investigation be held into the Israeli raid on a Gaza aid flotilla last week, but it seems clear that Israel has rejected the idea, and will conduct its own investigation.

When Interests Diverge ? Cordesman?s Israel as Strategic Liability

By Patricia H. Kushlis

There comes a time when countries? interests diverge. When a joined-at-the-hip foreign policy becomes detrimental to one or the other. CSIS Anthony Cordesman?s provocative commentary ?Israel as a strategic liability? released on the think-tank?s website on June 2 raises that question vis-à-vis the US relationship with Israel.

MAIN FOCUS: Turkey puts its role as negotiator on the line | 07/06/2010