New York – Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) issued the following statement in response to Turkey’s decision to expel the Israeli ambassador from Ankara, following the release of the U.N. report on the Israeli actions to enforce its blockade of Gaza. Rep. Engel is a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
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Turkey should be ashamed of itself. In an almost unbelievable act of hypocrisy, the Syrian ambassador sits comfortably in Ankara, while the Assad regime kills more than 2000 of its own people, but Turkey has expelled the Israeli Ambassador for Israel’s proper enforcement of a legally-established blockade. Rather than bashing the only real democracy in the Middle East, Turkey should focus on its own problems, such as ending its occupation of Cyprus once and for all.
“The Palmer Commission report accurately confirmed that Israel acted within its rights in establishing a blockade of Gaza, and enforcing it. I think the report went too far, however, when it said Israel used ‘excessive’ force. Only after the Israelis faced serious, life-threatening violence did they act legally in self-defense. I can see nothing wrong with that.”
Today, a long-awaited U.N. report on Israel’s May 2010 raid on a Gaza-bound ship said Israel’s blockade of Gaza was legal. The report, led by former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer, also confirmed that Israeli commandos faced “organized and violent resistance from a group of passengers.” The report verified that Israel’s blockade of Hamas-run Gaza “was imposed as a legitimate security measure in order to prevent weapons from entering Gaza by sea and its implementation complied with the requirements of international law.”
Beautiful!
Way to go Congressman Engel.
Engel, you really care? Let me see you call out Obama on this! Lets see Obama call on congress to recognize the Armenian genocide and call out anti-semitic Erdogan who continues to slaughter the Kurds.
even though i dont agree with most of Engel’s political views, he’s been a strong and consistent advocate for Israel. we need voices such as his and need to allow him the ability to aggressively support Israel w/o creating internal polical issues for himself
Eliot, Eliot, Eliot … I know that you are, in your heart, a strong supporter of Israel, as am I, and as are the majority of Yidden (the Naturei Karta Klan and crazy satmar-oids notwithstanding).
Please, Eliot, see the light, and leave the dhimmi-crat party. Yes, once upon a time, before the dhimmi-crats degenerated into what they are today, they were the party for those who support Israel, not to mention the U.S.A., but how can you possibly feel comfortable there now?
Why doesn’t this Congressman concentrate on the needs of his own district. He is an American elected congressman elected to serve his district HERE. He is not a congressman for a district in the State of Israel. Gevalt………These politicians are incredible. No politician can serve two masters. We need leaders whose interest is in America, first, second and third. Not foreign states. If he wants to worry so much about the conflict between his beloved State of Israel and Turkey, let him move to the Medinah and run for the Knesset.
This once friendly Turkey is not doing its best to fight with israel!
He (Erduan) walked out in middle of Shimon Peres’ speech.
Allowed a Flotilla to israel….
Turkey is a low grade democracy with a low grade level of international significance at the spirit of the western yearnings and western ways of life. The fact that they would expel the Israeli’s ambassador is an attack against Jews all over the world.
#6 once again the enemies of the Jews has spoken Elliot Engels is a proud american and represents his congressional area with great pride his support of Israel is not only welcome but needed with nazi lovers like you during the war while millions died at their hands your mentor ran for his life he got onto kessner’s train and lived in israel for several years. so please spear us your anti vjewish rhetoric and non sense and while you are at it please explain the programs and murder of jews prior to israel