Israel Apologizes to Turks with a Push from Obama, but Why Now?
On March 22, 2013, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu apologized to Turkish Prime Minister Erdoḡan over the killing of Turkish volunteers on the ship Mavi Marmara, who were involved in supplying humanitarian aid to Gaza on May 31, 2010. Among the volunteers who were killed, there was also a U.S. citizen, Furkan Dogan (19). Diplomatic relations between the two countries, following the incident, has been strained and limited. The apology was timed with the President Obama’s recent visit to Israel and had been planned months before the President’s visit. Just prior to Obama’s flight to Jordan, President Obama called up Erdoḡan…
Former Military Chief Appointed as Israeli Defense Minister
Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu appointed Moshe Ya’alon on Sunday as Israel’s new defense minister. Ya’alon has long opposed the freezing of settlement building, and has said in the past that Israel must focus on defense before diplomacy in the conflict. Ya’alon headed the Israeli army during the 2nd intifada, or Palestinian uprising. He also took a controversial stance in opposing the 2005 Israeli withdrawal from settlements within the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu chose Ya’alon because the position requires someone with military experience. “At such a decisive time for the security of the State of Israel, when the region all around…
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