Tel Aviv – Over 500 angry Israeli citizens demonstrated Monday night in front of the Turkish Embassy in Tel Aviv, calling on their government to act firmly against the militants of the Flotilla ships and against the Turkish government who many believe to be responsible for organizing the flotilla and successfully touching off a diplomatic crisis for Israel.
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The “Gaza Freedom Flotilla” set sail last week for the Hamas-controlled Gaza region, claiming to be carrying humanitarian aid. Israeli Navy ships requested late Sunday night that the activists change course from Gaza to Ashdod, where they would be able to unload their aid material, which would then be transferred over land to Gaza after undergoing security inspections.
The activists refused and IDF troops attempting to board a ship were attacked by activists wielding knives, clubs and guns. Nine militants were killed and several soldiers injured – one from a gunshot wound – during the clashes that ensued, creating a new public relations crisis for the Jewish state.
Grassroots voices throughout the country and several military analysts have noted that Navy officers did not take proper precautions by sending commandos to board the ships without the necessary back-up or cover. They pointed out that preparations for the operation should have taken into account that not all of the people on the flotilla were unarmed.
Roni Bialer, one of the protesters demonstrating in front of the Turkish Embassy, spoke with Israel National News, stressing that the protest is made up completely of private citizens and is not connected with or endorsed by any organizations or political entities.
“We want the Israeli government to act strongly instead of apologizing for the number of militants killed,” said Bialer. “We must blame (Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip) Erdogan. It does not make sense that Turkey sends a ship with [possible] arms and expects Israel to let it in. We want Israel to change its policy towards Turkey.”
Bialer further expressed support for Israel’s government and for the IDF, saying that the behavior of Israeli soldiers was necessary for the country’s defense. In addition to an abundance of Israeli flags at the demonstration, signs calling for a free Kurdistan were prominently displayed and Turkish flags were lit afire.
Turkey was until recently widely viewed as one of the Middle East’s more moderate regimes, like Jordan, Egypt and the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority, who enjoy arms and support from the United States while generally limiting their actions against Israel to anti-Zionist propaganda.
But in the last year, Turkey has moved increasingly closer to the more outwardly hostile Iran-Syria-Hizbullah-Hamas axis that opts for a more traditional military approach to destroy Israel. While Israeli government officials have exhausted attempts to reconcile with Turkey, many Israelis – such as the angry demonstrators in Tel Aviv – have called on their government to treat Turkey as an enemy state.
STOP Flying Turkish Airlines to Israel they know JFK-IST-TLV is a hot Route, Turkish Airlines even advertises in the Jewish Press.
Someone should hold a protest like this outside the Turkish consulate in New York.
Israelis need to STOP GOING TO TURKEY. A while back there was a story on here about them trying to get Charedi tourists.
When Turkey allows unregulated flotilas to enter it territorial waters, I will accept their complaints as legitimate. However, if they decline allowing unregulated flotilas protesting civil rights violations in Turkey as well as protesting the Turkish muder of Armenians, their complaints are illegitimate.
it is against Halacha to visit Turkey or any enemy state. Why feed their economy? better off visiting the dead sea or eilat.
Turkey is a turncoat, treacherous nation. Just a couple of years ago they were an ally of Israel and of NATO. Today, they have become an effective puppet of Iran and Syria.
Turkey has changed its tune so now its economy will change also!! Don’t buy Turkish products!!
Good advice from all the above. I applaud THIS demonstration.
Very good!
Just keep the pressure on Turkey about the Armenian holocaust and about an independent Kurdistan.
That’s great!
Whenever Turkey says something about Palestine, just answer them Kurdistan!
Turks only understand Turkish!
Insulting them about the Armenian holocaust they did is the only language they understand!
Just look at Tukey’s humanitarian record
http://holocaust-forum.blogspot.com/2010/02/ship-struma-was-sunk-killing-768-men.html
Before Erdoğan was elected Turkey was Israel’s closest ally other than the US. Turkey was upset over being rejected for EU membership so they elected a PM who’s been weakening all ties with the West and Western allied states (including Israel) and strengthening ties with the Islamic world. Mustafa Atatürk is probably rolling in his grave because of this nut.
Italy was the only country to condemn the flotilla. Anyone who was planning on visiting Turkey should visit Italy instead.
We should protest in turkish embassy in New York and remind them of the
armenian holocaust and their cruely
Were are the jewish activist sticking up whats right
Israel gained a brilliant military victory over unarmed women and children. yet, we could see the result in lebanon when it confronted with real “men”.
you have no sense of international law and humanity.
you are good only at killing people and blaming others wih unabashed accusations is a usual practice and it is very israeli. this time it is turkey, next time it is some other country.
very good guys, go on…
As an Irishman I have a few questions that perhaps you may be able to answer:
How many UN Resolutions ignored by israel? Why?
Why does the US support every act (that is condemned by the UN) that Israel carries out?
Israel threatens Iran for seeking nuclear power for civilian use…whilst having the largest arsenal of nuclear weapons in the whole region. Isn’t this a bit hypocritical.
Over 1400 Palestinians murdered in cold blood recently – killed by missiles fired into concentration camp Gaza – where is the compassion?
Murder of Rachel Corrie in cold blood
Palestinian land stolen…despite UN Resolutions condemning – why does Israel keep doing this?
Peace activists trying to help the people of Gaza – murdered in cold blood – again, where is the compassion?.
Can none of Israel’s supporters see the comparison between Gaza Ghetto and the Warsaw Ghetto – the actions of the occupiers and the actions of those other occupiers 70 years ago?
Murder in Dubai – agents using stolen passports…
and on…and on…
I’d just like to try to understand…why?
Any of you got the beitsim to provide some answers
God bless those poor Palestinians
Patrick
irish nazi go to hell thre population of Gaza is three times what it was in 1967. no one takes them to gas chembers. so no comparison you garbage pig. you must be muslim like yhe terrorist pig from Dubai