06-22-2016, 10:06 PM
*** 23-Jun-16 World View -- Turkey drops lifting of Gaza blockade demand for normalization with Israel
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
****
**** Turkey and Israel close to restoring diplomatic relations
****
![[Image: g160622b.jpg]](http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com/ww2010/g160622b.jpg)
Proposed seaport on artificial island off coast of Gaza
Reports indicate that Turkey and Israel are close to restoring
diplomatic relations which deteriorated sharply in 2010 after the
"Mavi Marmara" incident, during which nine citizens of Turkey were
killed by Israel's military.
Turkey was the first Muslim country to formally recognize the state of
Israel in 1949, and relations where generally good for decades. When
Turkey's current president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, came to power in 2002
as prime minister, relations became more tense, but still cordial.
Relations seriously deteriorated, starting in 2008, over Israel's
relationship with Gaza. Israel imposed a total blockade of Gaza, and
Egypt also closed the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Israel,
triggering violent protests by the Gazans. (From January 2008: "In dramatic scene, 60,000 Gazans pour into Egypt through holes blasted through border wall"
)
Tensions grew in Gaza through 2008. Hamas, the terrorist group
governing Gaza, was launching dozens of rockets into Israeli territory
every day, while Israeli air strikes struck weapons sites in Gaza, but
also killed dozens of Gazans. In December, the exchanges of fire
escalated into a full-scale war (Operation Cast Lead), beginning with
air strikes followed by a full-scale ground invasion.
At the end of January 2009, Israel's president Shimon Peres and
Erdogan got into a passionate debate at the World Economic Forum in
Davos. After a heated exchange, a furious Erdogan walked out of the
meeting, and went home to a hero's welcome when he returned to Turkey.
In June 2010, international activists send an aid flotilla to Gaza to
break Israel's blockade. Israel's military intercepted the flotilla
and boarded the lead boat, the Mavi Marmara. In the ensuing fracas,
nine Turkish citizens were killed. The entire incident was a disaster
for Israel. ( "1-Jun-2010 News -- Wide condemnation of Israel over Gaza flotilla"
)
As a result, Turkey effectively cut off almost all relations with
Israel. It's only now, six years later, that reports indicate that a
formula has been found for reconciliation.
It's believed that the situation in Syria has caused Erdogan to be
more willing to compromise than he has been in the past. There are
three reasons:
These reasons have apparently convinced Erdogan to compromise with
Israel. Negotiators from Turkey and Israel are expected to complete a
draft agreement in the next few days. Jerusalem Post and Washington Post and AP (30-Jan-2009)
****
**** Turkey drops demand for lifting the blockade of Gaza
****
Erdogan has consistently made three demands of Israel before relations
could be restored. Israel would have to formally apologize to Turkey,
and Israel did that in 2013. Israel would have to pay compensation to
the families of the Turks who died in the Mavi Marmara confrontation,
and reports indicate that Israel has agreed to pay $20 million.
The third requirement was that Israel must lift the blockade of Gaza.
Turkey has repeatedly said that this is an absolute requirement.
Israel has repeatedly said that lifting the blockade was absolutely
impossible.
According to a report on RFI, the Turkey has dropped the requirement
to lift the blockade, based on a compromise:
Jerusalem Post and Hurriyet (Ankara) and i24News (Israel) and Deutsche Welle
****
**** Proposal for offshore seaport raises controversy
****
The third item in the list above, the proposal for an offshore seaport
has been around for a while, and is extremely controversial.
The proposal was first put forward in 2011 by Israel's transportation
minister Yisrael Katz. The seaport would be built in international
waters, located on a 5-km-long artificial island. The port will be
connected to the land by a detachable bridge, which will be under
Israeli supervision. Israel would be able to close the bridge at any
time, if necessary.
According to Katz:
[indent]<QUOTE>"I do not think it is right to lock up two million
people without any connection to the world. Israel has no
interest to make life harder for the population there. But because
of security concerns we can’t build an airport or seaport in
Gaza."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
However, there are plenty of critics.
Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas is said to be opposed to
the project, since it would cut the final strings connecting Gaza to
the West Bank. Palestinians criticize the project as another excuse
to delay removing the Gaza blockade.
An Israeli commentator, Martin Sherman calls the proposal "so
glaringly absurd that it transcends what you mistakenly believed was
the pinnacle of imbecility," and says that it would encourage further
terrorism. Oil Price and Washington Post and Israel Hayom (27-May)
****
**** Russia improves military ties with Israel, will not veto relationship with Turkey
****
At a meeting in Moscow on June 7, Russia's president Vladimir Putin
and Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to strengthen
military ties, and to hold joint naval and air military exercises
during the summer.
At the same meeting, Putin said that he felt "exceptionally positive"
about efforts to restore relations between Israel and Turkey. Putin
said, "We believe that any movement of these states and peoples toward
each other will have a positive impact on the international situation
in general. We welcome this process." Bloomberg (8-June) and Debka (10-June)
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Turkey, Israel, Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
Mavi Marmara, Gaza, Operation Cast Lead, Shimon Peres,
Germany, Hamas, Nato, Yisrael Katz, Mahmoud Abbas, West Bank,
Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Russia, Vladimir Putin,
Benjamin Netanyahu
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
- Turkey and Israel close to restoring diplomatic relations
- Turkey drops demand for lifting the blockade of Gaza
- Proposal for offshore seaport raises controversy
- Russia improves military ties with Israel, will not veto relationship with Turkey
****
**** Turkey and Israel close to restoring diplomatic relations
****
Proposed seaport on artificial island off coast of Gaza
Reports indicate that Turkey and Israel are close to restoring
diplomatic relations which deteriorated sharply in 2010 after the
"Mavi Marmara" incident, during which nine citizens of Turkey were
killed by Israel's military.
Turkey was the first Muslim country to formally recognize the state of
Israel in 1949, and relations where generally good for decades. When
Turkey's current president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, came to power in 2002
as prime minister, relations became more tense, but still cordial.
Relations seriously deteriorated, starting in 2008, over Israel's
relationship with Gaza. Israel imposed a total blockade of Gaza, and
Egypt also closed the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Israel,
triggering violent protests by the Gazans. (From January 2008: "In dramatic scene, 60,000 Gazans pour into Egypt through holes blasted through border wall"
)
Tensions grew in Gaza through 2008. Hamas, the terrorist group
governing Gaza, was launching dozens of rockets into Israeli territory
every day, while Israeli air strikes struck weapons sites in Gaza, but
also killed dozens of Gazans. In December, the exchanges of fire
escalated into a full-scale war (Operation Cast Lead), beginning with
air strikes followed by a full-scale ground invasion.
At the end of January 2009, Israel's president Shimon Peres and
Erdogan got into a passionate debate at the World Economic Forum in
Davos. After a heated exchange, a furious Erdogan walked out of the
meeting, and went home to a hero's welcome when he returned to Turkey.
In June 2010, international activists send an aid flotilla to Gaza to
break Israel's blockade. Israel's military intercepted the flotilla
and boarded the lead boat, the Mavi Marmara. In the ensuing fracas,
nine Turkish citizens were killed. The entire incident was a disaster
for Israel. ( "1-Jun-2010 News -- Wide condemnation of Israel over Gaza flotilla"
)
As a result, Turkey effectively cut off almost all relations with
Israel. It's only now, six years later, that reports indicate that a
formula has been found for reconciliation.
It's believed that the situation in Syria has caused Erdogan to be
more willing to compromise than he has been in the past. There are
three reasons:
- Turkey has become isolated since the shooting down of a
Russian warplane last year.
- Turkey and Israel need to share military intelligence on
Syria.
- Turkey's trade with Saudi Arabia has been crippled by the Syria
war, since truck traffic through Syria and Iraq has been severely
cut.
These reasons have apparently convinced Erdogan to compromise with
Israel. Negotiators from Turkey and Israel are expected to complete a
draft agreement in the next few days. Jerusalem Post and Washington Post and AP (30-Jan-2009)
****
**** Turkey drops demand for lifting the blockade of Gaza
****
Erdogan has consistently made three demands of Israel before relations
could be restored. Israel would have to formally apologize to Turkey,
and Israel did that in 2013. Israel would have to pay compensation to
the families of the Turks who died in the Mavi Marmara confrontation,
and reports indicate that Israel has agreed to pay $20 million.
The third requirement was that Israel must lift the blockade of Gaza.
Turkey has repeatedly said that this is an absolute requirement.
Israel has repeatedly said that lifting the blockade was absolutely
impossible.
According to a report on RFI, the Turkey has dropped the requirement
to lift the blockade, based on a compromise:
- Turkish aid groups will be allowed to deliver assistance to
Gaza, and possibly build a hospital. The assistance will be delivered
to an Israeli port, and from there transported to Gaza.
- Turkey and Germany will build a desalinization plant, to
compensate for the shortage of water in Gaza.
- An artificial island will be built off the coast of Gaza, to be
used as a seaport for deliveries to Gaza.
- Turkey will lift its veto of Israel's cooperation with Nato. As a
Nato member, Turkey has effectively prevented Israel from cooperating
with Nato.
- Turkey will expel some leading members of Hamas leadership, which
Israel believes are hiding out in Turkey, although Turkey has always
denied this.
Jerusalem Post and Hurriyet (Ankara) and i24News (Israel) and Deutsche Welle
****
**** Proposal for offshore seaport raises controversy
****
The third item in the list above, the proposal for an offshore seaport
has been around for a while, and is extremely controversial.
The proposal was first put forward in 2011 by Israel's transportation
minister Yisrael Katz. The seaport would be built in international
waters, located on a 5-km-long artificial island. The port will be
connected to the land by a detachable bridge, which will be under
Israeli supervision. Israel would be able to close the bridge at any
time, if necessary.
According to Katz:
[indent]<QUOTE>"I do not think it is right to lock up two million
people without any connection to the world. Israel has no
interest to make life harder for the population there. But because
of security concerns we can’t build an airport or seaport in
Gaza."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
However, there are plenty of critics.
Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas is said to be opposed to
the project, since it would cut the final strings connecting Gaza to
the West Bank. Palestinians criticize the project as another excuse
to delay removing the Gaza blockade.
An Israeli commentator, Martin Sherman calls the proposal "so
glaringly absurd that it transcends what you mistakenly believed was
the pinnacle of imbecility," and says that it would encourage further
terrorism. Oil Price and Washington Post and Israel Hayom (27-May)
****
**** Russia improves military ties with Israel, will not veto relationship with Turkey
****
At a meeting in Moscow on June 7, Russia's president Vladimir Putin
and Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to strengthen
military ties, and to hold joint naval and air military exercises
during the summer.
At the same meeting, Putin said that he felt "exceptionally positive"
about efforts to restore relations between Israel and Turkey. Putin
said, "We believe that any movement of these states and peoples toward
each other will have a positive impact on the international situation
in general. We welcome this process." Bloomberg (8-June) and Debka (10-June)
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Turkey, Israel, Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
Mavi Marmara, Gaza, Operation Cast Lead, Shimon Peres,
Germany, Hamas, Nato, Yisrael Katz, Mahmoud Abbas, West Bank,
Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Russia, Vladimir Putin,
Benjamin Netanyahu
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
