General Discussion

Mosby

(16,308 posts) Fri Mar 22, 2013, 12:04 PM Mar 2013

Israel, Turkey agree to normalize relations

In a dramatic reconciliation demanded and brokered by President Barack Obama shortly before he left Israel on Friday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by telephone and agreed to end three years of frozen relations.

In the first conversation between the leaders since 2009, Netanyahu made it clear that the tragic consequences of the Mavi Marmara flotilla interception in May 2010 — in which nine Turkish citizens were killed by Israeli naval commandos who had come under attack on the boat — were not intended, and expressed sorrow to the Turkish people for any mistakes that might have led to loss of life. He also agreed to compensate family members of the victims.

The leaders agreed to return their respective ambassadors and pledged to overcome differences.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/obama-applauds-call-between-israeli-turkish-prime-ministers/

3 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Israel, Turkey agree to normalize relations (Original Post) Mosby Mar 2013 OP

But...but....Israel hates Obama and Obama can't do anything to help the ME MrBig Mar 2013 #1

this is a pretty big deal alright. Mosby Mar 2013 #2

I hope it gets the attention it deserves MrBig Mar 2013 #3

MrBig

(640 posts)

1. But...but....Israel hates Obama and Obama can't do anything to help the ME

Reply to Mosby (Original post)

Fri Mar 22, 2013, 12:09 PM

Mar 2013

And yet again our President shows just how effective he is at his job.

He intelligently downplayed expectations going into the Middle East and I think even Bibi was shocked by how much support President Obama has in Israel.

This is a HUGE step in my opinion towards Israel's left wing gaining some much needed strength to overcome the hawkish government. I am so proud that President Obama is my President!

Mosby

(16,308 posts)

2. this is a pretty big deal alright.

Reply to MrBig (Reply #1)

Fri Mar 22, 2013, 12:15 PM

Mar 2013

For a lot of reasons.

MrBig

(640 posts)

3. I hope it gets the attention it deserves

Reply to Mosby (Reply #2)

Fri Mar 22, 2013, 12:19 PM

Mar 2013

I may be choosing to be optimistic, but I really see President Obama as a force for positive change in Israel and the rest of the Middle East. He's forcing Bibi to make moves that I think we all can agree Bibi doesn't want to make.

Normalizing relations with Turkey hopefully is just the first step along the road of Israel making more diplomatic inroads. I honestly think Bibi was taken aback by how popular the President was in Israel. A majority of the younger generation there absolutely loves him.

Reply to this discussion