Topic: Mavi Marmara

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Teen rescued from Turkey quake rubble, as government eyes lax building construction

A teen was pulled from the Turkish quake rubble early Friday morning. Meanwhile, concerns are rising over subpar building construction, which contributed to the quake's toll and is ongoing.
Terrorism & Security
Turkey-Israel ties fall to new low in response to UN flotilla report

Turkey expelled Israel's ambassador today in protest over a UN report that justified Israel's blockade of Gaza, though not the fatal raid on a mainly Turkish flotilla that sought to run it.
Israel's new friend: Why Greece is thwarting Gaza flotilla

Since last year's flotilla debacle killed nine Turkish activists, Israel has cultivated ties with Greece, offering the debt-ridden country generous military aid.
Backchannels
Greece puts halt to Gaza flotilla in a win for Israel

The Greek coastguard escorted a US boat seeking to join the Gaza flotilla back to port and said it will stop all other attempted departures. It looks like a big diplomatic victory for Benjamin Netanyahu.
Intense Israeli lobbying stalls Gaza flotilla

A US contingent is bringing Arabic translations of a book about Martin Luther King Jr., saying they want to show Palestinians that nonviolent resistance can work. But they're stuck in Athens.
Turkey's shift on Syria gives West room to get tougher on Assad

After a decade of much warmer relations between Ankara and Damascus, Turkey’s tough new stance against the Assad regime's crackdown on protesters should provide Washington and the West with the opportunity – if not the impetus – to adopt a more assertive stance on Syria.
Global News Blog
Israel's navy trains for second major Gaza flotilla

Another Gaza flotilla will set sail next month with the Mavi Marmara flagship, which Israeli navy commandos raided last year, killing nine activists in violent clashes.
Israel's Gaza flotilla probe findings could hurt Israel-Turkey ties

An Israeli investigation into last year's Gaza flotilla raid reinforces the government's position in a spat with Turkey that has brought bilateral ties between two US allies to the breaking point.
Israel's Lieberman tweaks Turkey. Is he flanking Netanyahu?

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman criticized Turkey in an apparent attempt to outflank Prime Minister Netanyahu on the right and pick up support from hardline nationalists disillusioned with the peace process.
Why Israel sees double standard in response to Wikileaks' Iraq files

The Wikileaks files on US actions in Iraq has some Israelis arguing they were unfairly singled out by a UN inquiry over the Gaza war.
Terrorism & Security
UN's Gaza flotilla probe finds Israeli soldiers committed 'willful killing'

Israel rejected the UN Gaza flotilla probe's findings as 'biased.' In Turkey, most politicians welcomed the news and praised the panel's objectivity.
The West must engage, not demonize, Turkey

In Washington and European capitals, it will be tempting to conclude that Turkey is already “lost,” that it is fated to become a rising theocracy that will work against rather than for international order. This would be a grave mistake.
Eyeing world opinion, Israel agrees to cooperate on UN Gaza flotilla inquiry

Israel's surprise announcement that it will cooperate with a United Nations investigation into the deadly May 31 Gaza flotilla raid signals the nation's assessment that it cannot keep alienating allies.
In diverting Libya aid ship, Israel implements lessons from Gaza flotilla raid

Israel worked with Egyptian officials to divert the Libya aid ship bound for Gaza, using not only military deterrence but also intensive diplomacy.
Gaza aid ship heads toward Egypt

Gaza aid ship from Libya heads to Egypt on Wednesday after Israel's navy warned it away from the blockaded Gaza Strip.
Israeli military inquiry finds no wrongdoing in Gaza flotilla raid

Israeli military inquiry looked into the May 31 Gaza flotilla raid by Israeli navy commandos and found, despite operational mistakes, there was no wrongdoing or negligence. Nine Turkish activists died in the raid.
Will Libya aid ship force more changes to Israel's Gaza blockade?

The Libya-sponsored Almathea is the latest of several attempts to break Israel's Gaza blockade since a fatal raid killed nine pro-Palestinian activists on May 31.
Libya's Qaddafi latest to challenge Israel's Gaza blockade

Backed by a charity headed by the son of Libyan ruler Muammar Qaddafi, the ship Amalthea will challenge Israel's Gaza blockade by attempting to deliver 2,000 tons of food, medicine, and relief to the Palestinian territory.
Terrorism & Security
Turkey ups the ante on Israel over Gaza flotilla incident

Turkey's foreign minister Ahmet Davutoğlu says that Turkey will break diplomatic ties with Israel unless it apologizes or accepts an international probe for its deadly May 31 raid on a Gaza flotilla.
Israel announces Gaza aid flotilla inquiry, Turkey not satisfied

Israel opened a limited investigation into the legality of its raid on the Gaza aid flotilla. Irish and Canadian observers will participate. Israel and the US hope the move will reduce the country's international isolation, but critics say plan doesn't go far enough.
Nobel laureate aboard Rachel Corrie: 'We were kidnapped' by Israeli navy

Mairead Corrigan Maguire was one of five Irish activists who challenged the Gaza blockade aboard the Rachel Corrie just days after a fatal Israeli raid on the "Freedom Flotilla." She shared her account with the Monitor.
Battered Israel relieved to take back seat on Iran sanctions

While Israel had called for 'crippling' Iran sanctions, in the wake of its fatal Gaza flotilla raid officials knows they have little political capital to push for more aggressive action than the US has taken.
Will Gaza flotilla raid mark end of Turkey-Israel relations?

Turkey called for an international investigation into the Israeli raid on the Gaza flotilla sent to break the aid blockade. At security meeting in Istanbul today, Turkey positioned itself as a leader in crafting a regional response. Turkey-Israel relations are fraying rapidly.
As MV Rachel Corrie draws nearer, Israel mulls easing Gaza blockade

After a week of intense international criticism for its raid on the Gaza 'Freedom Flotilla,' a senior Israeli official told the Monitor the government may ease the blockade that the MV Rachel Corrie is now drawing fresh attention to.
At Gaza flotilla funeral in Turkey, rising anger and eyewitness accounts

Turkish leaders built on earlier condemnations of Israel's attack on the Gaza flotilla, while mourners offered eyewitness accounts that contradicted Israel's version of events.