Bibi Between A Rock And a Hard Place

[Schneibster]

The rock is Turkey: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/06/world ... srael.html

After release of a report by the UN that concludes that Israeli commandos responded in a way that was "excessive and unreasonable" after being attacked while boarding a Turkish aid flotilla on its way to the Gaza Strip, Turkey has reacted badly. Nine Turks were killed, and Prime Minister Erdogan has demanded an apology and reparations to the families. Bibi has refused the apology, wants to express "regret," and is fine with the reparations. Turkey is way bent about it. They've all but terminated diplomatic ties, ejecting the two highest ranking members of the Israeli embassy, and halting ongoing military and economic interchange and coordination.

Much scarier, Turkey is threatening to use her Navy to escort ships in the Eastern Med, including ships to Gaza. And Erdogan is threatening to visit Gaza personally.

Meanwhile, the hard place is the uprising that has occurred during the last weekend. The largest demonstration in the history of Israel marched chanting, "The people demand social justice," waving placards that read, "Netanyahu, you're fired."

Now it gets interesting. Now we see. Both are US allies; Turkey is a member of NATO. NATO just took down Ghaddafi.

I'd like to see Israel stop building settlements and start figuring out how they're going to end this. I think those demonstrators might like that, too, but I think they're more interested in lower prices for food and housing and clothing.

I wonder if they'll trust Bibi to do it. I can't decided if I think he will, but I sure do think he should. Both. But I think he's got yet another problem, which is the shit world economy right now.

Amusingly, IPS was the only source that had a really good analysis of this situation. I've been watching this since the original incident when people got shot. Neither the Guardian nor the New York Times has the "you're fired" part, though there's a picture in the Guardian that might have it with some piece of graphics conveniently hiding the blurred-out slogan on the sign in the background. IPS is the only one, including Israeli papers like Ha'aretz, that has it. I like IPS, always have. They get a little strident occasionally, but I joined the order of the shrill a long time ago.

Read all about it.