Israel Threatens War Against Turkey

After the murder of nine Turkish civilians in international waters by Israeli commandos, the Turkish government has stated that future humanitarian flotillas to the blockaded Gaza will be accompanied by the Turkish navy in order to protect Turkish civilians.

And Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan has stated he many accompany one of the vassals. There is widespread angry over Israel's attack in international waters and the death of Turkish nationals in the country. So the Turkish claim that future vassals will need protection is seen not only as reasonably but necessary considering that Israel has promised next time it will use even more force.

Until recently the Israelis have dismissed the Turkish plan. As a NATO member and home of one of the largest navies in the world, Turkey's navy is not to be crossed. And Article 5 of the NATO defense treaty entails that fellow NATO allies have to come to Turkey's defense if anyone attacks them.

But even if Turkey were to send its navy, the idea of Israel engaging them seem unimaginable. Israel is not about to risk war by confronting the Turkish navy or even getting close and leading to confusion which may bequeath an exchange of arms. If Turkey were to send its navy, Israel would more than likely just allow the flotilla to pass into Gaza or at least wait until the flotilla enters Israeli sea (which Turkey's navy cannot) and then board the vassal.

It was simply unimaginable that even with the low relations now would Israel ever risk war with the second largest military in NATO. But then you underestimate the new extreme militarism that embeds Israeli society:

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Israeli Army commander and top Likud member Uzi Dayan today warned on Israeli Army Radio that Israel would consider any attempt by the Turkish military to protect future aid ships from attack an “act of war.”

Dayan then added that if Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan attempted to accompany the aid ships personally, as he has reportedly considered “we would not try to take over the ship he was on, but would sink it.” He added that Erdogan’s presence on a future aid ship would also be a casus belli for an Israeli war against Turkey.

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The explicit threat of war against Turkey is something new, however. While Israel starts wars with a casualness rarely seen in other nations, an attack on Turkey, a key NATO member with an enormous military, would be something quite different from a monthlong attack on the Gaza Strip or blowing up metro Beirut with air strikes.

Israel has seriously lost its grips on reality and its hubris has lead to an insane overestimation of its capabilities. If Israel declares war against Turkey it will have crossed the Rubicon.