Source: JTA, 4-23-13
Israeli lawmakers are condemning U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s comparison of the Boston Marathon bombing victims to the 2010 deaths of Turkish citizens aboard the Mavi Marmara ship….READ MORE
Posted by bonniekgoodman on April 23, 2013
http://togetherwithisrael.wordpress.com/2013/04/23/israel-political-brief-april-23-2013-israeli-lawmakers-slam-us-secretary-of-state-john-kerry-for-boston-marathon-mavi-marmara-comparison/
Source: National Post, 3-22-13
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the breakthrough after a phone conversation with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan….READ MORE
Posted by bonniekgoodman on March 22, 2013
http://togetherwithisrael.wordpress.com/2013/03/22/israel-political-brief-march-22-2013-pm-benjamin-netanyahu-apologizes-for-tragic-gaza-flotilla-raid-as-israel-resumes-relations-with-turkey/
Source: PMO, 3-22-13
יום שישי י”א ניסן תשע”ג
Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke today with Prime Minister Erdogan from Turkey.
PM Netanyahu told him he had just had good conversations with President Obama about regional cooperation and the importance of Israel-Turkey relations. He regretted the recent deterioration of relations between Israel and Turkey and expressed his commitment to overcoming their differences in order to advance peace and stability in the region
PM Netanyahu said he had seen PM Erdogan’s recent interview in a Danish newspaper and appreciated his words. He made clear that the tragic outcome of the Mavi Marmara incident was not intended by Israel and that Israel regrets the loss of human life and injury. In light of Israel’s investigation into the incident which pointed to a number of operational mistakes, the Prime Minister expressed Israel’s apology to the Turkish people for any mistakes that might have led to the loss of life or injury and agreed to conclude an agreement on compensation/nonliability.
Prime Minister Netanyahu also noted that Israel had substantially lifted the restrictions on the entry of civilian goods into the Palestinian territories, including Gaza , and that this would continue as long as calm prevailed.
The two leaders agreed to continue to work to improve the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territories.
Source: PMO, 3-22-13
יום שישי י”א ניסן תשע”ג
ראש הממשלה בנימין נתניהו שוחח היום עם ראש ממשלת טורקיה ארדואן. השניים סיכמו על השבת הנורמליזציה בין המדינות, כולל שליחת השגרירים בחזרה, וביטול ההליכים המשפטיים נגד חיילי צה”ל.
ראש הממשלה נתניהו אמר לראש הממשלה ארדואן שהיו לו שיחות טובות עם הנשיא אובמה בנושא שיתוף פעולה אזורי, וחשיבות יחסי ישראל טורקיה.
נתניהו הביע צער על ההידרדרות ביחסי ישראל-טורקיה, והביע את מחויבותו להסדרה של חילוקי הדעות במטרה לקדם שלום ויציבות באזור.
ראש הממשלה נתניהו אמר שהוא ראה את הראיון האחרון שהעניק ארדואן לעיתון דני, והביע הערכתו לדבריו. נתניהו הבהיר שהתוצאות הטרגיות של משט המאווי מרמרה לא היו מכוונות, וישראל מביעה צער על פגיעה ואובדן חיי אדם. לאור החקירה הישראלית של התקרית שהצביעה על מספר טעויות מבצעיות, הביע ראש הממשלה נתניהו התנצלות לעם הטורקי על כל טעות שיכלה להוביל לאובדן חיי אדם, והסכים להשלים את ההסכם על פיצויים.
ראש הממשלה נתניהו ציין גם שישראל הסירה כבר מספר מגבלות על תנועת אזרחים וסחורות לכל הטריטוריות הפלסטיניות, כולל עזה, והדבר יימשך כל עוד השקט יישמר. שני המנהיגים סיכמו להמשיך ולעבוד על מנת לשפר את המצב ההומניטארי בשטחים הפלסטינים.
Posted by bonniekgoodman on March 22, 2013
http://togetherwithisrael.wordpress.com/2013/03/22/israel-political-brief-march-22-2013-pm-benjamin-netanyahu-speaks-with-turkish-pm-recep-tayyip-erdogan/
Source: PMO, 2-28-13
יום חמישי י”ח אדר תשע”ג
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sharply condemns Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s statement about Zionism and its comparison to fascism. “This is a dark and mendacious statement the likes of which we thought had passed from the world,” Prime Minister Netanyahu said.
Posted by bonniekgoodman on February 28, 2013
http://togetherwithisrael.wordpress.com/2013/02/28/israel-political-brief-february-28-2013-pm-benjamin-netanyahu-responds-to-turkish-pm-recep-tayyip-erdogans-statement-on-zionism/
Source: JTA, 2-24-13
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for now has rejected a bid to apologize to Turkey for a fatal raid on a 2010 Turkish aid flotilla to Gaza….READ MORE
Posted by bonniekgoodman on February 24, 2013
http://togetherwithisrael.wordpress.com/2013/02/24/israel-political-brief-february-24-2013-pm-benjamin-netanyahu-rejecting-apology-to-turkey-for-now/
Source: JTA, 2-12-13
Israel has agreed to allow Turkish trucks carrying construction materials into the Gaza Strip for the construction of a hospital….READ MORE
Posted by bonniekgoodman on February 12, 2013
http://togetherwithisrael.wordpress.com/2013/02/12/israel-political-brief-february-12-2013-israel-to-allow-turkish-construction-material-into-gaza/
Source: Jerusalem Post , 1-17-13
Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon told Turkish daily Hürriyet on Thursday that Israel may use diplomatic language inspired by the letter sent by Washington to Islamabad over the killing of 24 Pakistani soldiers in order end the impasse with Ankara….READ MORE
Posted by bonniekgoodman on January 17, 2013
http://togetherwithisrael.wordpress.com/2013/01/17/israel-political-brief-january-17-2013-israel-hints-at-apology-to-turkey-over-gaza-flotilla/
Source: JTA, 11-25-12
Israel and Turkey resumed informal reconciliation talks….READ MORE
Posted by bonniekgoodman on November 25, 2012
http://togetherwithisrael.wordpress.com/2012/11/25/israel-political-brief-november-25-2012-turkey-israel-resume-reconciliation-talks/
Source: JTA, 9-20-12
Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a Turkish newspaper that Israel sent “the richest Jewish man in the world” to create better relations between the two countries….READ MORE
Posted by bonniekgoodman on September 20, 2012
http://togetherwithisrael.wordpress.com/2012/09/20/israel-political-brief-september-20-2012-turkeys-erdogan-says-israel-sent-richest-jew-to-intercede/
Defense Minister Ehud Barak: Nuclear Iran would lead to a nuclear arms race throughout the Middle East.
Source: Israel National News, 7-26-12
Ehud Barak
Flash 90
Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Wednesday that Israel will soon need to reach decisions regarding Iran.
Speaking during a graduation ceremony at the National Security College, Barak said, “The State of Israel is facing some of the most complex challenges which its security and political leadership has ever had to face.
“We may be required to make difficult decisions concerning the national security of Israel and ensuring its future,” he said. “The whole region around us has been turbulent and noisy for almost two years, instability is increasing and security challenges grew each day. The events of the Arab Spring which gradually became an Islamic Summer teach us that in the ultimate test we can rely only on ourselves.
“I am well aware of and know the difficulties and complexities involved in thwarting Iran’s achievement of nuclear weapons,” said Barak. “However, I know beyond a doubt that dealing with the challenge itself would be infinitely more complex, infinitely more dangerous and far more expensive in terms of both human lives as well as resources.”
Barak stressed that “A nuclear Iran is a threat to international order. It will lead to an arms race throughout the Middle East.”
Regarding Syria, the defense minister said, “We are closely following the developments in Syria. We said and we mean it that the State of Israel cannot accept the transfer of advanced weapons systems from Syria to Hizbullah. A massacre and murder of citizens by government forces is going on Syria as the entire world watches.
“Bashar Assad has lost his legitimacy to rule. It seems that every day that passes brings the end of the current regime closer. The difficulty of the international community in formulating a response to present bloodshed and death of innocents can be a lesson for us and illustrate the limitations of the ability of the international community to mobilize political will, unity of purpose and ability to function even when the situation requires it.”…READ MORE
Posted by bonniekgoodman on July 25, 2012
http://togetherwithisrael.wordpress.com/2012/07/25/israel-political-brief-july-26-2012-defense-minister-ehud-barak-well-have-to-make-decisions-on-nuclear-iran/
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that Turkey and Israel are looking for ways to normalize political relations, saying, “We want to restore relations with Turkey.”
Netanyahu spoke to a group of Turkish journalists in Jerusalem and his comments were reported by the Turkish daily Today’s Zaman.
“In a region where instability reigns, Israel and Turkey are two quite stable countries. I believe in [our] common interest,” Netanyahu told the journalists, adding that Turks and Jews have a long history.
The newspaper noted that the conversation between Netanyahu and the Turkish journalists was the first time since the May 2010 incident on the Mavi Marmara, which occurred when the ship tried to break the blockade on Gaza and refused to turn aside when ordered to. When IDF soldiers boarded the ship they were violently attacked. Soldiers opened fire in response, killing nine Turkish activists.
The incident caused Israel’s relationship with Turkey, already strained, to break down completely. Turkish leaders demanded an apology, but Israeli leaders refused, saying Israel had acted in self-defense.
Today’s Zaman noted that Netanyahu received the Turkish journalists in the same room where Israel’s National Security Cabinet meets. In the back, behind Netanyahu both Israeli and Turkish flags stood….READ MORE
Posted by bonniekgoodman on July 25, 2012
http://togetherwithisrael.wordpress.com/2012/07/25/israel-political-brief-july-25-2012-pm-benjamin-netanyahu-meets-with-turkish-journalists-we-want-to-restore-relations-with-turkey/
Source: JTA, 7-24-12
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman Avigdor Lieberman told Turkish journalists that Israel has “no reason to apologize” for the Mavi Marmara incident….READ MORE
Posted by bonniekgoodman on July 24, 2012
http://togetherwithisrael.wordpress.com/2012/07/24/israel-political-brief-july-24-2012-avigdor-lieberman-tells-turkish-journalists-no-reason-to-apologize-for-mavi-marmara-incident/
Full Coverage of President Barack Obama's Middle East Tour & Israel Visit from March 20-23, 2013 @ Obama Israel Visit
