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    US tells Israel, Turkey to 'cool it' amid tensions

    By MATTHEW LEE - Associated Press | AP – Fri, Sep 9, 2011

    WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration on Friday bluntly told U.S. allies Israel and Turkey to "cool it" as tensions between the two rose over aid flotillas to Gaza.

    Amid concern over a possible naval confrontation in the Mediterranean, the State Department said both sides should exercise restraint and avoid any provocations.

    "We are urging both sides to refrain from rhetoric or actions that could be provocative, that could contribute to tensions," spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters. "Obviously, we would like to see both sides cool it and get back to a place where they can have a productive relationship."

    "We want to see these two strong allies of the United States get along with each other and work together in support of regional peace and security," she said.

    She said that message was being delivered to both Turkish and Israeli officials. In Washington, the top U.S. diplomat for Europe, Philip Gordon, met on Thursday with Turkey's ambassador to the United States to discuss the situation, she said.

    Concern has been rising for some time about the deterioration in once-strong ties between Israel, America's top ally in the Middle East, and Turkey, a key NATO ally and its only Muslim-majority member, but worry intensified last week after Israel refused to apologize for its deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla last year that killed Eight Turks and a Turkish-American. Turkey expelled several senior Israeli diplomats, suspended military cooperation with Israel and boosted naval patrols in the eastern Mediterranean in response.

    Tension spiked again after Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey would send warships to escort future aid boats leaving its territory for Gaza to prevent a repeat of the 2010 incident. His comments to Al-Jazeera television on Thursday were the first time Turkey has said its navy will use force to protect ships attempting to break Israel's blockade of the coastal Palestinian territory.

    Israel said such a move would be "grave and serious" but stressed it was looking for a way to calm matters.

    The prospect of a military confrontation between Turkey and Israel would have profound consequences for regional security and the Middle East peace process. It would also complicate U.S. interests and could have implications for NATO.

     

    218 comments

    • Brenda M
      Brenda M  •  8 mths ago
      salaam,
      While Democracy complains when other locations blocks aid upon most needy accounts
    • Brenda M
      Brenda M  •  8 mths ago
      salaam,
      Democracy approves of prejudice blockaids upon most needy accounts
    • Osman Ghazi
      Osman Ghazi  •  8 mths ago
      america helps israil = russian and china join the war = that equals israil and america getting fucked off this world map and become history
      • VMK
        VMK 8 mths ago
        I got news for you buddy, the only reason China and Russia will not go to war with us, is because they know we would rather destroy this planet before we let them win.
      • Stonebird2112
        Stonebird2112 8 mths ago
        Russians have jews too #$%$ Here's a better scenario: Russia, China and USA all join forces to defend Israel from those that espouse hatred and the world becomes a much better place.
      • cbrown3001
        cbrown3001 8 mths ago
        A war with the whole mis east would be over in 3 months and not in the mid easts favor.
    • steven
      steven  •  8 mths ago
      9-11 was a Mossad assist and that is why there were 200 Mossad agents arrested in the U.S immediately after 9-11. Note that after the first plane struck the news announced finding a Koran and passport of one of the hijackers beneath the first tower which was struck. Remember the 5 dancing Israelis that said to the police officer we are not your enemies, they are and now we have the same enemy.Remember the US service men and women attacked by Israel. Beware the zionists, they killed Rabin and even the Hasidic warn of their evil.
    • Ian
      Ian  •  8 mths ago
      Just two teenagers having a pissing contest. Turkey grumbles to keep its population stirred up and Israel does the same; but in the end they'll both sit down to a quite aftenoon and a few cups of coffee(Turkish of course). Sometimes a bit of grumbling is good; for it draws out the real culprit in the area(Iran).
    • Jericho Jericho
      Jericho Jericho  •  8 mths ago
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHxN_RQoTNw
    • looklogan
      looklogan  •  8 mths ago
      This is why our deficit is so bad, We get caught up in everyones mess because our government cant stay out of ANYTHING!!!!!!!!!!
    • Gods Shining One
      Gods Shining One  •  8 mths ago
      Just get it over with. 2 billion faithful on each side. both thinking God will help them win. Best thing that could happen is an all out war. 50 million dead. and a no show from either God. Then we can stop the fairytales and start cleaning up the mess were making in our own nest. It will never happen because all 4 billion really know it's a fantasy the just prefer dreams over reality.
    • Thomas W
      Thomas W  •  8 mths ago
      S&P has raised israels credit rating... that should tell you something about israel not taking any more aid from the US tax payers... we are broke and unemployed and s&p lowered our credit rating... so go beg someone else for money and military aid israel...
    • Michael
      Michael  •  8 mths ago
      Uh, yeah...and what's Israel supposed to do about it?
      Maybe if Obama goes on another apology tour, he can win the Turks over...ROFLMAO!
    • Dee
      Dee  •  8 mths ago
      Gee NO-Bama, why not "cool it" with the billions in aid given to these two?
    • thetnrebel
      thetnrebel  •  8 mths ago
      israel will clean Turkey clock with their airpower... the will lose their navy and much of their airpower.. if turkey is smart they back off
      • AlexanderO
        AlexanderO 8 mths ago
        I wish they wouldn't, the Islamic World needs a fresh lesson in manners which could remembered by at least one generation. After that it would all start over again of course.
    • kidcanyon
      kidcanyon  •  8 mths ago
      yeah, like, mellow-out dudes.
    • Esteban
      Esteban  •  8 mths ago
      Filthy evil racist Israel. When will they give us our $4 BILLION (really $10 BILLION with all the secret stuff) a year BACK? I'm waiting for the reichwing "deficit hawks" (haha) to zero in on this COLOSSAL waste.
    • Esteban
      Esteban  •  8 mths ago
      World to US Empire - screw you. Israel breaks international law and murders Turkish civilians in international water. Can't you clowns in Washington just PRETEND for a moment that you're not a bunch of ZioPuppets?! JUST ONCE!
      • Trojanhorse
        Trojanhorse 8 mths ago
        Wh should the US protest when Israel kills Turks? The US doesn't protest when Isreal murders Americans.
    • Greg
      Greg  •  8 mths ago
      the thing is Israel does not need to match them ship for ship. SO Turkey is being stupid. Turkey is too far out to have effective air cover and Land to sea and air to sea missiles make ships useless in any real battle. The only thing Turkey may gain is loss of European support for trying to bring them into a conflict. When Turkey NEVER aids NATO.
    • Donna
      Donna  •  8 mths ago
      It's gonna go up soon no matter what, grab your popcorn and take a seat. Will there be glass or just conventional, that is the question.
      • kidcanyon
        kidcanyon 8 mths ago
        No-kidding Donna! I've got my low-boy lawn chair, cool shades, a bottle of Jim Beam, some icey cold beers and a pack of ciggies...I'm going to park my seat above temple Square in SLC, UT and watch the pandemonium. YEEEE HAAAWWW!
      • Donna
        Donna 8 mths ago
        Not much else to do when tribes are squabbling.
      • LORD KABIGON
        LORD KABIGON 8 mths ago
        Science and Democracy, 1920/05/04.
    • Larry
      Larry  •  8 mths ago
      The US needs to tell Turkey to "cool it" with their empty threats and provocative rhetoric. Their tin can ships will be at the bottom of the Mediterranean Basin if they try to break Israel's blockade.

      And to the morons who are saying Turkey would destroy Israel clearly have no idea of what ISrael has and is capable of. There is a reason the Turkey buys Israeli weapons and Israel trains Turkey's defensive forces, not the other way around.

      The Turkish Navy is no match for Israeli missile boat technology and their electronic jamming and tracking systems. Neither do the Turks have advanced submarines like Israel's German-made Dolphins or close air cover.
    • James
      James  •  8 mths ago
      While most of the people who leave comments are either Muslims or Democrats, people who hate Israel. The truth is Israel has the right to exist and defend herself. Turkey every day for the last two months has been throwing barbs at Israel. CNN finally did some analysis and it turns out that there is a huge oil field off the coast of Israel that Turkey wants. Turkey is being encouraged by the Obama Administration to go to war with Israel. Obama has promised that if war comes he will not help Israel the way Richard Nixon did in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. When Israel was savagely attacked by both Syria and Egypt.
    • Steve
      Steve  •  8 mths ago
      Is there any day goes by without a news from Israel
      Why %85 people in world hates Jew?
      Why 87 countries does not recognize Israel?
      Why only UK and USA support this state?
      WHY ?????????????????????????????????
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