Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan this week coolly moved his country
step by provocative step towards an armed clash with Israel – not just
over the Palestinian issue,
but because he covets the gas and oil resources of the eastern Mediterranean
opposite Israel's shores. Thursday night, Sept. 8, he announced that
Turkish warships will escort any Turkish aid vessels for Palestinians in
the Gaza Strip. In his remarks to Al Jazeera television, the Turkish
prime minister also said he had taken steps "to stop Israel from
unilaterally exploiting natural resources from the eastern Mediterranean."
He did not say what steps he had taken. However, for some time now,
he has moved mountains to isolate Israel by drawing a double
diplomatic noose around it.
If Turkish ships breach the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza, which a
If Turkish ships breach the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza, which a
UN report last week pronounced legitimate under international law,
Erdogan will become the first Muslim leader to embark on military
action in the Palestinian cause. The Arab nations which fought Israel
time after time in the past will be made to look ineffectual and the
Turkish leader the regional big shot. Even Iran would be put in the
shade for never daring to provoke Israel the way Turkey has.
The Turkish prime minister clings to the belief that the foremost
The Turkish prime minister clings to the belief that the foremost
Arab powers, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, which have been watching
his maneuvers with deep suspicion, will have no choice but to play
ball with him now that he has confronted Israel. The first crack in
the Arab ice came about Thursday, Sept. 8, in the form of Egyptian
consent to join the Turkish Navy in sea maneuvers in the eastern
Mediterranean.
Erdogan plans to send his warships into this water for two missions:
1. To split the Israel's small Navy into two heads – one for sustaining
Erdogan plans to send his warships into this water for two missions:
1. To split the Israel's small Navy into two heads – one for sustaining
the blockade against Gaza and one for safeguarding the gas and oil
rigs opposite its shores.
2. To scare Israel into the full or partial stoppage of its offshore oil
2. To scare Israel into the full or partial stoppage of its offshore oil
and gas operations, thereby robbing it of energy power status and
substantial economic gains. Erdogan is determined never to let Israel
overshadow Turkey in the regional stakes and will put a stop to the
Jewish state's progress – even if military aggression is called for.
Read the rest on: Debka File
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