Israeli prime minister apologizes to Turkish leader over flotilla raid

[Paul E Ester]

Source: CNN

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu phoned Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan on Friday to apologize for a 2010 Israeli commando raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla that killed several Turkish activists, the Israeli and Turkish governments confirmed.

Netanyahu made the call during an airport meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama before Obama departed Israel after his first visit to the Jewish state since taking office in 2009.

He apologized for what happened and acknowledged "operational mistakes," and Erdogan accepted the apology for the raid on the Gaza-bound Mavi Marmara flotilla ship, a vessel transporting aid to Gazans and intent on breaking an Israeli sea blockade.

Eight Turks and an American of Turkish origin were killed in the raid.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/22/world/meast/israel-turkey-apology/index.html?c=homepage-t

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Score one for President Obama. They also decided to normalize their fractured diplomatic ties, agreeing to return ambassadors to their posts.

[Paul E Ester]

1. Obama gets diplomatic coup before heading to Jordan

President Barack Obama arrived in Jordan on Friday after scoring a diplomatic coup just before leaving Israel when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu phoned his Turkish counterpart to apologize for the Israeli commando raid in 2010 that killed eight Turks and an American of Turkish origin in a Gaza-bound flotilla.

The apology, long sought by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan, could help restore normal relations between Turkey and Israel, two vital U.S. allies in the Middle East.

Two senior U.S. administration officials told reporters traveling with Obama about the phone call, which occurred when the president and Netanyahu met at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv minutes before Air Force One departed for Jordan.

One of the officials said Erdogan accepted the apology, and a senior Turkish official confirmed to CNN that the apology from Netanyahu occurred and said the Israeli leader made an offer of compensation.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/22/world/meast/mideast-obama-trip/index.html

[Paul E Ester]

2. Netanyahu apologizes to Turkey over 2010 Gaza flotilla

"Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed an apology to the Turkish people for any error that may have led to the loss of life, and agreed to complete the agreement for compensation," the statement said.

The conversation was facilitated by US President Barack Obama, taking place during Obama's prolonged meeting with Netanyahu on Friday afternoon.

"The United States deeply values our close partnerships with both Turkey and Israel, and we attach great importance to the restoration of positive relations between them in order to advance regional peace and security," Obama said in the statement released by the White House just before he ended a visit to Israel.

"I am hopeful that today's exchange between the two leaders will enable them to engage in deeper cooperation on this and a range of other challenges and opportunities," the president said.

Turkey, for its part, agreed to drop all charges against a group of former Israeli military commanders including former chief of staff Lt.-Gen. (res.) Gabi Ashkenazi.

Netanyahu said to Erdogan that he had a good discussion with Obama about regional cooperation, and the importance of Israeli-Turkish ties. The prime minister expressed regret at the deterioration of those ties, and committed himself to resolving their differences in the aim of promoting peace and regional stability.

Netanyahu said he saw the interview that Erdogan gave the Danish newspaper recently, in which Erdogan stepped back from his statement equating Zionism with racism, and Netanyahu expressed his appreciation for the clarification.

http://www.jpost.com/International/Obama-Netanyahu-Erdogan-speak-by-phone-307423

[MrBig]

3. Great work by the President

He's really helping the left wing in Israel gain their voice back. I'm excited about how much impact he's having, despite the constant fervor here and in the MSM about how Israel and the people hate President Obama and just want war

[leftynyc]

5. Believe me, plenty of people

on this board fervently wish the President did hate Israel as much as the clowns on the right say he does.

[kelliekat44]

13. Most of the press in the US and even some of favorite blogs have given little attention to the huge

outpouring for our President. I guess he didn't fail enough? Too many positives, including a brilliant and inspiring speech to the Israeli people. But it would have been 24/7 headline news if they had not received him so well. He leaves nothing for the RW funddie hypocrites to say here in the US. If you watch his speech to the Israeli packed auditorium you will see why the RW GOP hate him so much.

[AtheistCrusader]

4. WOW.

Was not expecting this.

[iandhr]

6. Using the phrase "operational mistakes" still allows room...

... for Israel to save face. Thats what I think Netanyahu was going for.

[awoke_in_2003]

10. Maybe, but the fact that the call...

took place is kind of amazing, IMO

[iandhr]

12. Agreed

All I was saying is the language Bibi used was important.

[jayfish]

7. And To Think...

there were people here at DU who thought the raid was just fine.

[L0oniX]

8. Bullshit! Too little and too late. There are other reasons for this dog and pony show.

[Fozzledick]

9. Maybe now we can finally apologize to Japan for Pearl harbor!

[JohnyCanuck]

11. Israel still feels no need to apologize to the USA for killing a US citizen on the flotilla.

I figure Obama talked Israel into patching things up with Turkey to ensure that Turkey would be cooperative when the US/Israel launch an attack on Syria and/or Iran. Notice that one of the victims murdered by the over reacting Israeli commandos was also a US citizen. Israel has seen no need to apologize to the USA for the illegitimate killing of an American, not that the USA has ever asked for an apology.

Israeli raid on Gaza Freedom Flotilla killed US citizen Furkan Dogan

Furkan Dogan – one of the activists killed in an Israeli raid on the Gaza 'Freedom Flotilla' and buried in Turkey today – was a US citizen. A friend, who had been on board the same ship, said Dogan was shot by five bullets.

The website of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan – who called the Israeli raid a "bloody massacre" and threatened to sever ties with Israel – listed Mr. Dogan's nationality as American. A State Department spokesman confirmed a dual US-Turkish citizen was killed and said the embassy in Turkey had offered consular services to the family.

Dogan’s death and his US citizenship were spoken of at the funeral.

“Furkan was my friend,” said Ali Yunusoalu, who went with Dogan for pre-dawn prayers on the top deck of the Mavi Marmar on Monday. Israeli naval boats soon approached the ship, he said, and then commandos dropped from helicopters.

“The soldiers started shooting and bombing” with bullets and percussion grenades, said Mr. Yunusoalu. “It was a big sound – you can’t hear a thing because of the noise.”

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2010/0603/Israeli-raid-on-Gaza-Freedom-Flotilla-killed-US-citizen-Furkan-Dogan