Netanyahu urges better Turkey ties, cites regional turmoil

[ages]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the Jewish state and its former ally Turkey must repair their relationship because of the instability in their region.

Turkey cut its once extensive ties with Israel after Israeli marines killed nine Turkish pro-Palestinian activists in May 2010 on a vessel trying to breach Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian enclave run by Hamas Islamists.

"Turkey and Israel are two important, strong and stable states in this region ... We must find ways to restore the relations we once had ... it is important, particularly now, for stability in the region in these times," Netanyahu's office said in a statement on Tuesday.
It said he gave the message to Turkish journalists in a meeting late on Monday.
While the statement gave no reason for the timing of his comments, both Israel and Turkey border Syria.
Turkey has called for Syria's president, Bashar al-Assad, to quit after he failed to heed calls for reform and the country has harboured Syrian rebels and tens of thousands of refugees along its border with Syria.
In Israel, Syria's 16-month-old conflict has spread concern that its chemical arsenal could fall into the hands of Hezbollah, the Lebanese Islamist group allied to Iran and Assad.

Israeli officials said on Tuesday that Assad's forces retained full control of such weapons, but that any indication they were about to reach Hezbollah could warrant military action by the Jewish state.
Numerous attempts by Israel and Turkey to rekindle their once-close strategic relationship have failed. Israel has rejected Ankara's demands for a formal apology, compensation for the families of those killed in the raid and end to the Gaza blockade.

There was no indication in Netanyahu's statement that Israel would change its stance and meet any of Turkey's demands.
A U.N. inquiry involving Israeli and Turkish representatives last September largely exonerated Israel's Gaza strategy and the interception of the Mavi Marmara, though it faulted the navy for excessive force.


http://uk.news.yahoo.com/netanyahu-u...213641881.html



well this is good news i think

[JGXL836]

News? I don't see any news.

There was no indication in Netanyahu's statement that Israel would change its stance and meet any of Turkey's demands.

[EITAN88]

Israel has always sought to normalize relations with Turkey... nothing new here.

I don't see the current status quo changing anytime soon, let alone go back to the way they were before, while Erdogan is still in office.

[ages]

Israel and Turkey cut their military ties since Isreal military arrested and killed some turkish members of the boat ship-to-Gaza, few years ago.

[tanks_alot]

Israel and Turkey cut their military ties since Isreal military arrested and killed some turkish members of the boat ship-to-Gaza, few years ago.

Really?! wow, I must have missed it!

[4X4Driver]

Israel has always sought to normalize relations with Turkey... nothing new here.

I don't see the current status quo changing anytime soon, let alone go back to the way they were before, while Erdogan is still in office.

True - at least not officially.

[tanks_alot]

True - at least not officially.

It's a shame though, both Israel and Turkey could have benefited from their old relationship in regards to what's going on in Syria, right now. at the very least with exchanges of intelligence.

[ages]

Really?! wow, I must have missed it!

It's a shame you didn't knew about it

[4X4Driver]

It's a shame though, both Israel and Turkey could have benefited from their old relationship in regards to what's going on in Syria, right now. at the very least with exchanges of intelligence.

True again...but he had to become "enemies" with Israel in order to play his part of the Greater Middle East project role.

[Ulytau]

I guess armies still continue to dialogue about Erdogan and minister of foreign affairs,seems this crises gonna kick them too.

[Camera]

With Erdogan on office, relations would not become like they were before, but there are objectives common interests for both states to cooperate together and with the US in the present situation.
The crisis in Syria may be long and may evolve to other countries: Lebanon, Irak, Jordan, Turkey, Israel...

[yahusharmuta]

The Turks reject the proposal

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/tur...&NewsCatID=338

[alexz]

^^
Good.
There was no chance the Islamist would have normalized relationship, however now no one in Israel can try and blame Netanyahu/Liberman for not reaching out.
It was a political maneuver by Netanyhu to look like a statesmen before an upcoming call for elections, change the topic of discussion inside Israel (his involvement in getting Kadima party members to defect) and of course make Erdogan look like an idiot again.

[4X4Driver]

^^
Good.
There was no chance the Islamist would have normalized relationship, however now no one in Israel can try and blame Netanyahu/Liberman for not reaching out.
It was a political maneuver by Netanyhu to look like a statesmen before an upcoming call for elections, change the topic of discussion inside Israel (his involvement in getting Kadima party members to defect) and of course make Erdogan look like an idiot again.

For the reasonable people...yes, but for the Arab streets...??

[Combat-Master]

Israel has always sought to normalize relations with Turkey... nothing new here.

I don't see the current status quo changing anytime soon, let alone go back to the way they were before, while Erdogan is still in office.

The same can be said for your current Government. The 10 Turks killed on the flotilla is regarded by all political parties in Turkey as a point to sour relations with Israel, they are united on this point.