Turkey considers recalling its envoy for consultations

[newyorican]

Turkey is considering recalling its ambassador in Israel for consultations, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said yesterday during a press conference in Ankara. Gul said the move reflected Turkey's growing concerns over the Middle East peace process at a time when Israel was continuing its military offensive.

<snip>

Despite such clarifications, Turkey's recall of its ambassador would be considered a serious diplomatic step. "Any move of this sort is taken after long discussion among foreign service professionals," an Israeli diplomatic source said yesterday.

But Israeli Foreign Ministry officials stressed last night that Israel "knows nothing about a decision to recall ambassador for consultations."

<snip>

At one point, Paritzky recalled, he spoke about the need to fight terrorists. Erdogan concurred, but added: "What's the difference between terrorists who kill civilians, and Israel which kills civilians?"

Paritzky stated he considered cutting off the meeting at this stage, but thought better. "Turkey is a Muslim state and the solidarity with the Palestinians is understandable," he said.

more...

[newyorican]

1. Analysis / Turkish anger heartfelt

"State terror," "massacre," "a state held captive by one party's politics" - these were some of the scathing words used this week by political leaders in Turkey in reference to Israel's policies in the territories. Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan didn't mince words when he met with National Infrastructure Minister Joseph Paritzky. According to Israeli sources, Erdogan "doused" Paritzky with criticism.

In one biting exchange, Erdogan complained about Turkish parliament members who were held up at an Israel Defense Forces roadblock. Paritzky replied that "Israel cannot supervise every idiot." Turkey's prime minister fired back: "It turns out that you cannot supervise your helicopters either."

<snip>

This week, Turkey's ruling party managed to derail a proposed resolution in the parliament that featured harsh criticism of Israel. "But don't think that this will always be the result - and in any case, was hardly flattering to Israel," a well-placed source in Turkey's parliament told Haaretz. "We're not talking about a break in relations, but don't think that what has happened is simply rhetorical censure. It's much more serious."

Changes in public attitudes toward Israel in Turkey are either caused, or reflected by, media coverage of events in Israel and the territories, sources in Turkey explain. Recently the country's media has been filled with television footage and newspaper reports of the IDF operation in Rafah - the coverage featured apparently indiscriminate shooting and house demolitions. After a long absence, vehemently anti-Israel editorial cartoons can be seen in Turkey's media once again. One such cartoon shows Ariel Sharon bearing a swastika within a Star of David.

Hmmm...more...

[lapfog_1]

2. Not that this is going to happen anytime soon

but suppose Israel and Turkey get into it. Especially if Israel does
something like bomb "terrorists" or a nuclear facility they think
Turkey is building. Turkey is a NATO member, Israel is not. Turkey
could invoke the "mutual assistance against an aggressor" clause in
the NATO charter. What would the US do? Great Britain?

Crap, we can't afford 4 more years of foreign relations bungling by
Bushco.

Sigh.

[bemildred]

3. Turkey has adequate non-military means to express displeasure.

It will not come to blows.