THE ISSUE: Turkey’s role in letting a flotilla test Israel’s Gaza blockade, with fatal results.
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I vehemently denounce the role Turkey played in baiting Israel and agitating, in collaboration with Islamic terrorists, a situation that required Israel to take forceful action to protect her citizens (“Turkish (Blood)- Bath,” Ralph Peters, PostOpinion, June 1).
No normal state tries to disrupt another state’s securing its borders, especially not to abet a violent confrontation.
Turkey and its prime minister, Tayyip Erdogan, need to be investigated by the UN Security Council. Allow Israel to defend herself.
Douglas Rabin
Clifton, NJ
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Ralph Peters once again shows his analytical prowess and uncovers political tricks under the surface.
Turkey, which has been masquerading as a beacon of humanitarian aid, perpetrated the cold-blooded murder of many thousands of innocent Armenian civilians. Turkey has also been engaged in ruthless bloody repression of the Kurds.
Peters does well to remind us of Turkey’s betrayal of the United States at the early stages of the conflict in Iraq.
Peters is correct to suggest that Turkey was deliberately provoking a confrontation, especially after Israel offered to transfer legitimate humanitarian supplies to the residents of Gaza after inspection.
R. Zeidman
Framingham, Mass.
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The purpose of the Turkish ships was clearly to challenge Israel’s legal blockade of Hamas-ruled Gaza.
It is the organizers of this provocative mission, and the Turkish government that supported this irresponsible farce, who should be held accountable for creating an unnecessary international incident.
Ronald D. Weiss
St. James
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It’s absurd for Peters to place blame squarely on Turkey.
Turkey and Israel share a substantial history of cooperation and support, but Turkey and Israel have deep and real differences over current Israeli policies adopted by Likud and its partners.
Many countries share Turkey’s concern, as do many Israeli citizens and American Jews.
Some Gazans support Hamas, others do not. But how long dare Israel blockade a population living in extreme circumstances? How better to increase support for Hamas and hatred of Israel than by subjecting Gazans and Palestinians to poverty and indignity?
Edward Schor
Manhattan
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Israel stepped right into the trap set by Turkey when it authorized a pro-Hamas domestic organization to design a “humanitarian” mission to Gaza.
For Turkey and others who regard Israel’s attempts to defend herself as misguided, this was a win-win. Turkey would win if Israel let the ships through, and it would win if they were stopped at sea.
That the interdiction went so badly is a tragedy for both sides.
Hopefully, attention will be paid to Turkey’s role as facilitator and to the fact that the peace activists on board did not take their guidance from the nonviolent movement.
P. Bloustein
Cincinnati, Ohio
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The sponsoring organization for the flotilla was terrorist in nature and a supporter of Hamas and al Qaeda
It is incongruous that Erdogan allowed that organization to use Turkish ships, ports and facilities for this propaganda show against Israel, demonstrating to all that Turkey has turned toward fundamental Islam and is no longer a friend of Israel.
If Israel had allowed the flotilla to proceed unimpeded, it would have set a dangerous precedent for weapons supplied to Hamas by Iran, Syria and North Korea via Gaza ports.
Nelson Marans
Silver Spring, Md.
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It’s obvious that the planned confrontation had the full support of the Turkish government.
Turkey is no longer a secular-run government, and it is longer a friend and ally of the West.
Israel has the same right to enforce the blockade as Turkey had the right to threaten Syria with military invasion for allowing the Kurds to launch attacks on Turkey from Syria.
Jack Treacy
Yonkers
