ShameOnTurkey.com

Ending or easing the Gaza blockade would open the door to Iranian ships or their smugglers bearing hundreds of heavy missiles for Hamas and Hezbollah and the establishment of an Iranian port on the Mediterranean.

The Gaza Flotilla & Maritime Blockade Of Gaza

Israel regrets all loss of human life and injuries which came as result of the unfortunate events aboard the vessel Mavi Marmara on Monday, May 31.

The responsibility for the consequences of this politically motivated publicity stunt aimed at capturing the attention of the international media, rests on the organizers of the flotilla, which included elements with links to Hamas - a murderous terrorist organization which smuggles fire arms, missiles and rockets aimed at killing Israeli citizens.

Turkey-Israeli Relations

Turkey, with a 99% Muslim population, has been Israel's closest Muslim ally, and the countries have been closely connected for decades.

Under the leadership of Ataturk, modern Turkey was established in 1923 as a secular, democratic, western-oriented nation with a clear separation between church and state. An original member of the UN, and the only Middle Eastern country in NATO, Turkey has been a lynchpin in NATO's policies in the region.

Turkey recognized Israel in 1949, and the two countries developed vacillating ties that were frequently tested by Turkey's connection to Arab Muslim states. However, in the late 1980's, the Israeli-Turkish relationship expanded dramatically. Turkey upgraded its diplomatic relations with Israel to the ambassador level in 1991, and civilian exchanges –tourism, academic, professional, sporting and cultural—and economic ties multiplied. The Hebrew and Turkish languages are now taught in Turkish and Israeli universities, and Turkey became a favorite destination for Israeli tourists. Above all, the Israeli and Turkish military became extremely close. There was intensive cooperation between their armies, air forces, and weapons industries. They conducted joint naval and air exercises, and shared intelligence. After 9/11, a Turkish Chief of Staff urged the United States to invest still more in Israeli-Turkish relationship, which could "develop as the pillar of a wider security architecture for the Middle East, with the objective of keeping theocratic extremism and martial despotism in check." In general, Turkey refrained from weighing in on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Then why did Turkey encourage the Flotilla and turn its friendly relationship with Israel into a hostile one?

Most analysts point to the internal struggle that developed when Turkey's Islamist AKP party, led by Recep Tayyip Erdogan won elections in 2002. While the military remains a bastion of Ataturk's secular revolution and friendly to Israel, the AKP seems bent on reversing the secular revolution, redirecting its alliances to the Middle East, and bidding for hegemony in the region as a Muslim state. It tried to end Turkey's ban on headscarves in public institutions. Turkey's Constitutional Court even almost outlawed the AKP. Turkey would not allow U.S. troops to enter Iraq from its territory in 2003. It opposed a Danish candidate for head of NATO because he had defended the publication of the Mohammed cartoons. It is developing closer ties with Iran, immediately congratulated Ahmadinejad for winning the fiercely contested June 2009 election, supports Iran's nuclear efforts, and undercut UN efforts to sanction Iran by brokering a fuel swap deal with Iran in May, 2010.

While the Israeli and Turkish militaries remained close, the AKP turned on Israel. It began promoting anti-Semitism and hatred of Israel at home, accusing Israel of turning Gaza into a "concentration camp." Prime Minister Erdogan embraced Hamas in 2006, and told President Peres, "You really know how to kill people," while they were in Davos in 2009.

The Erdogan government apparently helped fund the Flotilla, and massive funeral rallies were held in Turkey to honor the slain Turkish nationals. Turkish leaders proclaimed that Israel had "jeopardized" the countries' ties, even though Israel complied with Ankara's demand that it release the hundreds captured in the operation.

Even before all the facts about the Flotilla operation were known, Erdogan incited the Turkish public against Israel, calling the operation a "bloody massacre" that "deserves every kind of curse."

Some analysts believe that Turkey supported the Flotilla and is exploiting it to demonize Israel because it has been looking for an excuse to sever ties with Israel. Others suggest that Turkey cynically used the Flotilla for its own public relations, to establish its own leadership in the Middle East. Still others speculate that Turkey's support for and the timing of the Flotilla were intended to take international focus away from the UN sanctions against Iran scheduled for the same time. Many analysts contend that Turkey is trying to become a competitor instead of an ally of the U.S. in the region. Yet others believe Turkish-Israeli relations can be repaired, particularly given the fact that Turkey's secular CHP party did very well in recent elections.

Background

Since Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005, more than 10,000 rockets and mortars have been fired on their civilian population. As a result, Israel had no other option but to impose a naval blockade in order to stem the flow of such munitions. At the time of this writing on June 1, 2010, at least three rockets have been fired today into Israeli cities by Hamas from Gaza.

Israel appealed to the convoys of ships to dock at the Israeli port of Ashdod so that humanitarian supplies could be delivered to Gaza via land through existing crossings after being checked for dangerous materials. Egypt also extended the same invitation to ships for delivering of the cargo into Gaza. The flotilla rejected the offer, and one of the organizers themselves said that issue was not about the delivery of humanitarian aid, but rather about breaking the 'siege'. All attempts at dialogue and reaching an understanding were rejected, leaving no doubt that this was as an act of provocation having nothing to do with a genuine concert for the wellbeing of Gazans. Ships forcing their way into Gaza will do nothing to aid the people there.

International Maritime Law

Israel said that it would use all means at its disposal to prevent the vessels from violating Israeli and international law.

Under international law, a maritime blockage is recognized as a legitimate tool during a time of armed conflict. A blockade may be imposed at sea, including international waters, so long as it does not bar access to the ports and coasts of neutral states. International maritime law clearly states that when a maritime blockade is in effect, no boats - including both civilian and enemy - can enter the blockaded area. Any vessel that violates or attempts to violate a maritime blockade may be captured over even attacked under international law.

Israeli Response

When it became clear that the flotilla of 6 vessels intended to break the blockade, Israel attempted to intercept the boats and then boarded the vessels to escort them to Ashdod. Due to the large number of vessels, there was an operational need to undertake measures to enforce the blockade a certain distance from our shores.

Five of boats proceeded to Ashdod without incident, while active resistance was encountered on the Turkish vessel Mavi Marmara. Aboard the ship, Israeli forces were savagely beaten with lead pipes, knives and pistols prepared in advanced by the crew. Several Israeli soldiers were wounded as result of the confrontations, including one who is in critical condition.

Israel will continue to act decisively to protect its sovereignty and right to protect itself. No other nation would accept a violation of this sort.

Humanitarian Situation In Gaza

There is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Thousands of tons of food, goods and equipment are transferred to residents daily by Israel and international organizations such as the United Nations.

Since January 2009, more than 1 million tons of humanitarian aid have been transferred. That is approximately one ton of aid for each man, woman and child in Gaza.

During the first quarter of 2010 alone, almost 100,000 tons of supplies have been provided, including: 48,000 tons of food products; approximately 550 of milk powder and baby food; 2,700 tons of rice; 40,000 tons of wheat; 185 tons of aggregates; 2,000 tons of clothing and footwear; 20 tons of iron; 25 tons of cement; and more than 1,000 tons of medicine and medical equipment.

In a typical week, 15,000 tons of supplies enter Gaza including truckloads of meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, fish, vegetables, milk powder, baby food, wheat and other essential goods.

Similarly, fuel and electricity needs are being met, and hundreds of Gazans receive medical treatment in Israel.

Background Of The Blockade

Primarily Turkey based “Peace Activists” from the “Free Gaza Movement” claimed that an Israeli blockade of Gaza was creating a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Details Of The Ambush On Turkish Vessel Mavi Marmara

• The ” peace activists” tried to bring down an IDF helicopter (see videos and look at the wires that the soldiers are repelling down from, they were attached to the ship by the people on the boat in order to drag the helicopter down)
• The “peace activists” pulled out bats, clubs, and slingshots with glass marbles, assaulting each soldier as he disembarked (Pictures below)
• IDF soldiers were equipped with paintball rifles used to disperse minor protests, as well as handguns but were told they should only use them in the face of life-threatening situations.
• The soldiers were told they were to verbally convince activists who offer resistance to give up, and only then use paintballs. They were permitted to use their handguns only under extreme circumstances. Once they landed on the ships, they were immediately overwhelmed by the violent crowd.
• At one point, the attackers nabbed one commando, wrested away his handgun, and threw him down from the top deck to the lower deck, 30 feet below. The soldier sustained a serious head wound and lost consciousness. (This can be seen in two videos, one in which a soldier is thrown overboard and another in which you see a soldier being thrown from the upper deck to the lower deck)
• Only after this injury did troops ask for permission to use live fire.

The United Nations Response

The United Nations Security Council can’t decide how to sanction Iran or punish North Korea over killing 46 South Korean Sailors in last month’s unprovoked attack on one of its submarines. But on Monday, the UN called an emergency session to take Israel to task over the boarding of a Turkish registered boat on its way to deliver aid to Gaza which led to at least nine deaths following violent altercations between Israeli forces and a significant number of armed protestors.

Talking Points

• Israel transfers about 15,000 tons of supplies and humanitarian aid every week to the people of Gaza.
• Lawyers representing the family of Gilad Shalit, the kidnapped Israeli soldier held in isolation, had asked the protestors to take aid for him, they refused.
• Israel offered the ship to dock in Ashdod port and they would transfer the aid to Gaza. This offer was made again and again - they refused.
• Israel has said that it will deliver any humanitarian aid that was in the boats to Gaza, as it does daily.
• Israel left Gaza in hopes of peace in 2005 and in return received more than 10,000 rockets and terrorist attacks. Israel has sought peace and compromise with its neighbors for all of its 62 years and it will continue to do so.
• Israel maintains a maritime blockade to ensure that weapons are not brought in by Hamas to use in attacks against Israel.
• "We fully intend to go to Gaza regardless of any intimidation or threats of violence against us, they are going to have to forcefully stop us," said one of the flotilla’s organizers.
• In the past, terrorist sympathizers have used aid deliveries to smuggle items like potassium nitrate in sugar sacks and used it to make bombs. Israel cannot afford to let goods get to Hamas unchecked.
• Five boats were boarded, the protestors complied and they were safely let to shore.
• One boat – the Mavi Marmara – did not comply. That is the boat where the violence took place.
• This was meant to provoke – it was funded and organized by a Turkish Islamist organization (IHH) that has links to fundamentalist jihadi groups. The ship was flying under the Turkish flag.
• Those on board carried out pre-planned violence, armed with knives and metal bars, each soldier being attacked by a mob of a dozen extremists. They threw one soldier off the top deck of the ship.
• The Israeli government maintains that allowing the illegal flotilla to reach Hamas would have opened a corridor of smuggling of weapons to Gaza and resulting in civilian deaths.
• Using the Arabic term ‘intifada,’ Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said "We call on all Arabs and Muslims to rise up in front of Zionist embassies across the whole world.
• As the flotilla made its way to meet him in Gaza, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said this week: "If the ships reach Gaza it is a victory; if they are intercepted, it will be a victory too"
• Turkey permitted the Marmara to fly under its flag. Turkey knew that the IHH (Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation) had organized the Flotilla, and supports the genocidal terrorist organization Hamas, several Jihadist organizations in Bosina, Syria, Iraq, Libya, and elsewhere, and has ties with Al Qaeda. But Turkey did not prevent the Flotilla from disembarking and attacking Israel’s sovereign right to protect itself from terrorists attempting to enter Gaza. Now Turkey is condemning Israel for the unfortunate casualties, and is leading the charge to condemn Israel at the U.N. It is Turkey that should be condemned by the United Nations for its role in this brutal trap set for Israelis.
• Hamas is responsible for the suffering of both Palestinians and Israelis. Their racist charter calls for Islamic domination; their stance is unchanged and they repress any Palestinians that try and counter their regime.
• Any police force in the world would respond to aggression; the provocation is the reason for this regrettable outcome. No country would allow illegal entry of any vessel into their waters without a security check.

About HAMAS

HAMAS—AN AL QAEDA-STYLE TERRORIST GROUP OCCUPYING GAZA. ITS GOAL IS ISRAEL’S DESTRUCTION

Hamas, a terrorist organization supported by Iran and Syria, won PA elections in 2006. It seized control of Gaza in a violent coup, torturing and murdering hundreds of its political rivals, in June 2007.

Hamas opposes peaceful co-existence, negotiations, and compromise with the Jewish State.

Hamas’ founding document calls for the murder of Jews, the “obliteration” of Israel, and its replacement with an Islamist theocracy. "We are fully preparing ourselves to liberate all of Palestine, retake Al-Quds (Jerusalem) and secure the return of all Palestinians." Hamas Chief Khaled Meshaal, Feb. 2, 2009

Hamas is the major perpetrator of terrorism against Israelis. Hamas was responsible for almost 40% of suicide bomb attacks against Israel during the Second Intifada. It has launched over 8,000 rockets and mortars targeting Israeli civilians since Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza in 2005. It systematically smuggles weapons into Gaza to continue its war against Israel.

Hamas kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and has held him incommunicado for three years, in contravention of all international agreements.

Hamas terrorizes and oppresses Gaza’s residents, summarily executes alleged Israeli “collaborators,” murders its political rivals, steals humanitarian aid, violates Gaza residents’ personal freedoms and civil rights, uses Gazans and their public institutions as human shields, and persecutes minorities such as Gaza’s 1500 Palestinian Christians.

Gaza has become a terrorist haven, harboring Al Qaeda, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and other terrorist operatives.