Report: Turkey to defuse Israeli Navy weapons

[ProgressiveProfessor]

Turkish newspaper claims Ankara ready to deploy three warships to Mediterranean Sea; instructs them to intercept Israeli navy vessels in international waters, neutralize their weapons system

While Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is scheduled to arrive in Egypt for a historic visit, daily newspaper Sabah on Monday reported that the Turkish Navy is preparing to deploy three warships in the Mediterranean Sea, in order to "safeguard the freedom of navigation."

According to a report, Turkish navy echelons decided that if one of its ships crosses paths with an Israeli vessel outside of the latter's territorial waters, it will be instructed to come within 100 meters of the ship and neutralize its weapons system.

The next day, Ankara issued a clarification, claiming the published quotes failed to correctly interpret Erdogan's intention.

"It appeared as if we were offering to have warships escort every aid vessel. This is not true. Turkey will defend the rights of its citizens only when Israel chooses to intervene and prevent free movement in international waters," an official source said.
=======================================
More at: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4121396,00.html

This is going to get real serious real fast if Erdogan issues those orders to the Turkish Navy. Nothing under the LOS, San Remo etc to support such actions. Under the circumstances outlined, NATO should not get involved.

Given the Turkish track record, the oil angle, and Cyprus should not be overlooked while Erdogan does the macho strut

[dtexdem]

1. No, it's not that it's going to get serious if Erdogan issues the orders.

It's that it will continue to get real serious real fast if Israeli piracy continues on the high seas.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

3. Israel is playing exactly by the book (San Remo)

We may not like it, but they are. Turkey would be opening fire on another vessel without legitimate reason. Big difference.

Very doubtful this would actually happen. My suspicion is that Erdogan is using it to distract from his real purpose, blocking the development of oil/gas fields.

[teddy51]

2. And keep in mind folks that Turkey is a member of NATO, so wonder what President

Obama is thinking of this?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

4. If Turkey fires on vessels in violation of the LOS/San Remo etc, NATO will do nothing

Since it will be Turkey being the aggressor.

While we may not like it, Israel is doing the blockade thing by the book (San Remo).

[Scurrilous]

5. Israel Navy ship accidentally enters waters of neighboring Arab nation

Commander sent to jail after a navigational error caused his reconnaissance vessel to cross several hundred meters into neighboring waters before being ordered back by Israeli radar station.

<snip>

"An Israel Navy reconnaissance vessel accidently entered the territorial waters of a neighboring Arab nation last week, in an incident first reported by Channel 10 on Sunday.

According to a probe by Israel Defense Forces, the ship's commander reputedly committed a navigational error, which caused the "Dvora"-class ship to enter 700 meters into the neighboring country's waters.

The infiltration was not detected by the neighboring country's forces, with an Israel Navy radar warning the vessel and directing it toward international waters.

An IDF spokesperson said in response that the military conducted "an operational investigation in which the ship's commander was tried and sentenced to prison," stressing that the ship "went over by only a few hundred meters."

The incident took place only two days after another naval mishap, one which caused seven Israeli employees of a private security firm to be briefly arrested by the Egyptian Navy near the Straits of Tiran in the Red Sea.

The four security men and three other crew members were arrested on a yacht Wednesday after they reportedly threw their personal weapons overboard in a fright upon noticing a nearby Egyptian naval patrol."

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-navy-ship-accidentally-enters-waters-of-neighboring-arab-nation-1.384070

[Kurska]

6. So they intend to intercept any Israeli Naval Vessel in international waters?

Or just during attempts to breach the Gaza blockade? The first would be a straight forward act of war, while the second one is just barely debatable.

[hack89]

7. Both would be acts of war. nt