NATO to meet Tuesday on Gaza flotilla raid by Israel

[WeDidIt]

This is NOT good for Israel.

NATO to meet Tuesday on Gaza flotilla raid by Israel

31 May 2010, 2211 hrs IST,AGENCIES

BRUSSELS: NATO will hold emergency talks on Tuesday at Turkey's behest after the deadly Israeli raid on a flotilla of aid-carrying ships bound for Gaza, spokesman James Appathurai said.

"Planning is underway for a meeting... at the request of the Turkish authorities tomorrow afternoon," Appathurai said. The talks will gather ambassadors from the 28 NATO member countries at its Brussels HQ.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters in Santiago, Chile, that his government was demanding the NATO council gather to address a crisis that has already seen Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu cut short a visit to Canada and Washington where he had been due to meet with US President Barack Obama on Tuesday.

Appathurai said in a statement that the military alliance is "deeply concerned about the loss of life" in international waters, with at least nine people -- many Turks according to reports -- killed and dozens more reported wounded.

<snip>

Economic Times

Turkey is a member of NATO.

From the NATO Charter:

The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognised by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.

Also, there's this:

Turkey threatens action; Israel on alert

New Delhi: Turkey has threatened Israel with unprecedented action after Israeli forces attacked an aid vessel, killing 10 peace activists headed to Gaza.

Israel said 10 people died while those on the ship said at least 15 were killed.

<snip>

Two Turkish activists were reported to be among those killed in the flotilla. Ankara warned that further supply vessels will be sent to Gaza, escorted by the Turkish Navy, a development with unpredictable consequences.

<snip>

CNN-IBN

This could escalate into something Israel definitely does not want very quickly.

[Tempest]

1. A waste of time

The U.S. will just veto any resolution coming out of the security council.

[WeDidIt]

3. You're talking about the U.N.

The U.S. doesn't have a veto in NATO.

[Tempest]

16. It will end up at the UN

NATO won't do squat, they don't have the stomach for it.

[theoldman]

2. Not to worry, nothing will happen.

I don't remember Israel ever being punished for over reacting. Turkey's military is very weak and they will only huff and puff.

[WeDidIt]

5. If they attack Turkey, they attack every member nation of NATO.

That's the NATO charter. No getting around that, especially since all of NATO agrees with Turkey on this incident with the possible exception of the U.S.

And Turkey is sending more aid ships escorted by their navy.

[azurnoir]

6. Turkey is a NATO member and as a NATO member

should be defended and supported as the NATO charter outlines

[LakeSamish706]

13. Totally agree, and with that in mind the US is going to have to go along, like it or not. n/t

[RedFury]

17. Re: Turkey's Military

You are wrong about Turkey's military: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_Armed_Forces">Turkish_Armed_Forces


Short of going nuclear, this is one bull Israel doesn't want any part of.

[FirstLight]

4. okay, i hate to say this BUT

It seems that Israel is really no better than the terrorists they seem to be 'protecting' themselves against
This is a humanitarian thing and who gave the Israelites their right to determine that palestineans are less than humans who deserve basic needs like food or water, etc...

It seems like Israel is using it's "right to BE" as a country to do whatever it wants. whether it be religious reasons or guilt over the holocaust, the world has really given them a free pass in many respects, and they are getting more agressive as a result...

just my observations, not based on anything else but my gut feelings...

[azurnoir]

7. Turkey recognized Israel's "right" long ago in 1949

Turkey-Israel relations were formalized in March 1949<1> when Turkey became the first Muslim majority country (before Iran in 1950<2>) to recognize the State of Israel.<3><4> Since then, Israel has been a major supplier of arms to Turkey. Military, strategic, and diplomatic cooperation between Turkey and Israel were accorded high priority by the governments of both countries, which share concerns with respect to the regional instabilities in the Middle East.<5><6><7> Nevertheless, diplomatic dialogue between the two nations has recently become strained, particularly following the 2008-2009 Israel-Gaza Conflict.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel%E2%80%93Turkey_relations

[WeDidIt]

8. This was the stupidest move Israel has ever pulled

This will become a defining moment in the entire I/P situation.

[Ozymanithrax]

9. So should NATO go to war? Should they invade Israel?

Since Turkey is sending aid ships escorted by Turkish Navy, that is what we are looking at. How far will Bibi push this.

I always thought that Bibi was a disastrous choice for Israel.

[WeDidIt]

10. If they fire on the Turkish ships it is an open declaration of war against NATO

and nothing they say or do from that point forward will alter the course that is taken.

[Ozymanithrax]

11. You are correct about that...

Firing on a Turkish warship would lead to war in accordance with the NATO treaty.

[WeDidIt]

15. There's one more little problem. The IDF attacked a civilian ship flying the Turkish flag

and did so in international waters and the Turkish government is pissed off about it.

It is quite possible they already committed themselves to a conflict with NATO.

[Ozymanithrax]

18. Yes...Bibi has succeeded in bringing Israel to the brink of destruction...

by the hands of allies and friends.

It is amazing what on conservative dickweed can do.

[Arctic Dave]

12. At this point NATO could, by its charter, level every commando traing base in Israel.

You have to ask yourself, is this what bibi wants?

[WeDidIt]

14. What do you think Turkey will be demanding tomorrow?

It could well be that.

And NATO will be bound by its charter to comply.