HR Comment: Turkey Tantrum Burying Palmer Report
September 14, 2011 10:06 by Simon Plosker
[This opinion piece was republished on YNet News.]
Only weeks after its release, the Palmer Report into the 2010 Gaza flotilla incident appears to have been consigned to the dustbin of history.
Despite leveling criticism at Israel for “excessive force”, the report could and should have been a major prize for Israel public diplomacy. How often, and particularly at a time of precious few PR gifts, does a UN-sponsored investigation uphold the legitimacy of Israel’s naval blockade as well as highlighting the danger of Hamas from Gaza?
Caught between a rock and a hard place, Israel’s government failed to enunciate a cogent message playing up the positives from the Palmer Report to avoid escalating tensions with Turkey.
Turkish PM Erdogan, however, took full advantage, using the hours before the report’s release to hijack the news cycle and reframe the story, aided by a compliant international media.
Even without Erdogan’s help, some media deliberately focused on Palmer’s criticism of Israel, ignoring the justification for the Israeli blockade and Turkish responsibility for the flotilla incident. The main headlines in the following days, however, belonged to Erdogan’s increasingly vitriolic attacks on Israel.
Despite the Palmer Report’s recommendation that Israel express regret over the Mavi Marmara incident, the story morphed into claims that Israel’s refusal to apologize was the reason for Turkish anger and the ever-widening rift between the two countries.
More accurately, the Turkish demand for an apology and Erdogan’s escalatory language should have been emphasized as the reason for diplomatic breakdown.
The formula is simple: when the UN releases a report contradicting your public positions, simply divert the conversation by unleashing an attack on Israel. And the media is only too happy to comply, letting you control the spin entirely. Of course, it only works if your attack on Israel conforms with the media’s basic narrative that Israel is an aggressor that is responsible for every problem in the region.
And Erdogan has continued to play to the media, stating: “The attack that took place in international waters did not comply with any international law. In fact, it was grounds for war.”
While only too happy to broadcast inflammatory Turkish rhetoric, the media seems unprepared to revisit the Palmer Report as a point of reference. Despite Erdogan’s claims that Israel had broken international law, the Palmer Report concluded the exact opposite, stating that Israel had every right to board the flotilla in international waters.
Look at the way two different UN investigations have been presented. The harsh and one-sided Goldstone Report received mass media attention. Since then, with far less fanfare, Judge Goldstone himself has distanced himself from the findings, saying that if he knew then what he knows now, the conclusions would have been very different.
The Palmer Report, much like Goldstone’s retraction, has been systematically ignored or deliberately skewed by a media that cannot deviate from the accepted narrative of Israel as the sole bad guy on the block.
But it isn’t just Turkish anger that has been reframed in the media. Following the attack on Israel’s Cairo embassy, the media was quick to pounce on the anti-Israel sentiment of the Egyptian street.
In particular, the inadvertent killing of Egyptian soldiers by Israeli forces pursuing Palestinian terrorists responsible for a deadly attack near the southern city of Eilat, was held up as an immediate reason.
Yet, even the Palestinian terror attack was reframed by some media. An Egyptian analyst quoted by Sky News claimed:
This action shows the state of anger and frustration the young Egyptian revolutionaries feel against Israel, especially after the recent Israeli attacks on the Egyptian borders that led to the killing of Egyptian soldiers. [Emphasis added.]
The Guardian’s Peter Preston stated in a similar vein:
It [the Egyptian street] doesn’t like five Egyptian border guards shot dead as the hapless byproduct of yet another Israeli reprisal raid. [Emphasis added.]
So, a deadly terrorist attack on Israeli soil is transformed into a “reprisal raid” or “Israeli attack” on Egypt, removing all context and presenting Israel as the aggressor. Like the Palmer Report, anything that could elicit any understanding or even sympathy for Israel, in this case a terrorist attack, is buried by the media.
In addition, claiming the deaths of Egyptian soldiers as the origin for the Israeli embassy attack fails to address decades of state-sanctioned anti-Israel incitement and anti-Semitism in Egyptian media. Not to mention the best-selling status of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion and Mein Kampf, readily available in Cairo bookshops.
In the end, it all comes down to a simple line promulgated by the media – Israeli actions are ultimately responsible for anti-Israel feelings from Turkey’s PM Erdogan all the way to the Egyptian masses.
Anything that challenges this simplistic narrative is removed, rebuffed or reframed to suit the dominant anti-Israel zeitgeist. Undoubtedly, Israeli efforts to counter the forthcoming UN Palestinian statehood vote will also be falsely framed as “anti-peace”.
Will Israel be able to recapture the narrative in the coming weeks? Judging by recent developments, optimism will be in short supply.
Read our initial Palmer Report analysis and share this with others who care.
Jayson Rex
3:43 pm
Sep 14, 2011
Turkey, under Erdogan, has joined the Islamist Axis and is waiting for the mement NATO will invite him to leave the organization – directly or more probably through replacing NATO with EUAF – European Union Armed Forces.
The Turkish people must know that once they join the Islamist Axis, there is no quitting – just like the old Mafia. And they must also know that the civilized world will never accept Turkey’s denial of the Armenian genocide. Or the current undeclared war against the Kurds who demand total and complete independence from Turkey. Clean and simple.
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steve mann
3:46 pm
Sep 14, 2011
OK -What can we, what should we- Do about it-? ? ?
This kind of thing is not new-its continuous, it has been since someone persuaded the the ill informed that the “Palestinian” refugees were the underdog.
How do we et those same people to read Honest Reporting?
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Sachs
3:55 pm
Sep 14, 2011
The true does never prevail bit the people who are against dy out. So just wait and see!
Max Plank
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Andy
3:56 pm
Sep 14, 2011
Is Turkey capable of leading the ‘new’ Arab axis? I ask that question because does anyone know what that axis will look like What group(s) in Egypt is Turkey aligining with? Egypt has yet to hold elections. Why does Turkey align itself with Gaza when Gaza is at odds with Fatah? The Arab world is not supporting Fatah: they are witholding funding from the West Bank. Will Trukey step up and provide funding to this new Arab axis?
Would Erdogen have disavowed the Palmer Report if the report had agreed that the flotilla was correct and Israel was wrong in their reaction? Probably they would. But because Turkey actually incited the flotilla, they are now trying to align themselves with a yet unformed Arab world plus Gaza to appear to be a new mideast power.
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Brian Hoffmann
4:05 pm
Sep 14, 2011
The tactic is a simple one, if you don’t agree with a report’s findings attack it so that attention is diverted elsewhere. Israel has allowed the Turks to dominate the scene and yet again is portrayed as the bad guy. While megaphone diplomacy a la Turk is not something Israel should engage in, it does need to be more robust in getting its message across. Op-eds in US newspapers will help address the balance but it is a more uphill task in the UK where the media are generally anti-Israel. However, Israel does have plenty of friends, even in the British media, and more should be done to state Israel’s case clearly and effectively. The new media on its own is not enough. Israel needs to be talking much more to editors and key commentators. If anti -Israel views are not robustly challenged they end up being believed just like the non-existent humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the plight of so-called Palestinian “refugees”. Israel has a good story to tell – so tell it.
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Turkey Tantrum Burying Palmer Report By Simon Plosker, Honest Reporting ‹ Friday Night Magazine
4:16 pm
Sep 14, 2011
[...] Read entire comment: Honest Reporting [...]
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Steve Rothstein
5:11 pm
Sep 14, 2011
Sponsoring the flotilla to Gaza was poor judgement on the part of the Turkish government. I wonder how the Turks would feel about Israel sending a flotilla of aid to the Kurds. What might Turkey do in such an event to protect its sovereignty over its territory? It seems as though this incident, as irrational as the action to sponsor the flotilla might have been, could be the herald of Turkey’s decision to take an active role in sponsoring the Palestinians in their drive for territorial concessions from the Israel
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Nathan Zafran
5:13 pm
Sep 14, 2011
The Arab world is in turmoil and what is supposed to be “The Arab Spring” is turning out to be a bleak and stormy “Arab Winter”. Instead of firm and tough leadership, power is shifting to the “Shabab”, the unchained and frenzied street mobs, and to more extreme and Islamic elements. In this atmosphere and the resulting void, Erdogan sees a golden opportunity to become the new Saladin, the Sultan of the revived Islamic Caliphate. Not having much persuasive power in the Arab world, what better currency is there than Israel-bashing? Anti Israeli rhetoric, boycotts, threats to use violence etc. are the order of the day. Add to this the cesspool of the anti Israeli media, that never wavers from its trend, you find that no amount of “hasbara” will ease the situation. Even if the Mavi Marmaris event had not occured, Erdogan would have had to find a different pretext for his ravings. I recently read an article about the Erdogan family which will never be seen in the media, that buries the Palmer report and the late Goldstone findings, and that distorts facts on the ground.
In the 40′s Erdogan’s family volunteered to serve in the fascist Muslim Brigades that helped the Nazi army to catch North African Jews, to spread Nazi propaganda in Turkey and to fight Tito’s partisans in the Balkans. These brigades were actually formed under the guidance of the notorious Hitler ally, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin el Husseini.
In 1970 Erdogan wrote and directed a play named Mas Kom Ya which was totally antisemitic. It had to be scrapped for fear that his political party would be disqualified. This play describes the Jews exactly according to the Hitler-Goebbels doctrine during the Nazi era. Erdogan is a member of an extreme Turkish Muslim Order named Kashibandi Shedonalhabaj World Jihad. He declared more than once that his target is the destruction of Israel. Erdogan was the first Turkish PM who enabled the collection of contributions for the Hamas, a recognised terrorist organisation. (Then of course, so is ITT in Turkey). In 1988 Erdogan was jailed for 10 months for extremist activities and incitement against the Jews and the West.
On more than one occasion, Erdogan has admitted that were it not for US aid he would long ago have enlisted for the annihalation of Israel. This Islamo-fascist was overwhelmingly elected by the Turkish people. He is a real diseased rat.
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Tony
5:19 pm
Sep 14, 2011
Erdogan is in fact still seething over the SLAP in the face he recieved from Shimon Peres at the World Financial Forum Last year,,, The video speaks for itself.,, Ever since ,,Erdogan has waited his turn to Finally “Humilliate” Israel Publicaly. He calls himself an “Islamist Moderate” But that is just for the rest of the world,, He has been planning his revenge ,ever since the European Union refused Turkeys Entry into the EU,, and THIS is what has Triggered Erdogan into Becomming the “Arab world Saver” representitive. He wants to take over from that Other SCHMUCK In Iran.
Erdogan says that Israel is acting like a spoilt Kid,,,, by refusing to appologise for the Marmara Flotilla Farce, In fact, it is Erdogan that is the Spoilt Brat here,,, He can’t get an appology so he tells Israel that Turkey is no longer friends with them;;; Now Who is the spoilt brat here??
Erdogan wants an Appology from Israel,?, But what about the Armenians,, The Greeks The Chypriots, and the Kurds?? What about Turkey Appologizing to them for the Armenian Holocaust, for the Current Massacre of the Kurds and for OCCUPYING of Greek and Chypriot Lands?
Erdogan had better get off that Wobbly Pedastal his Islamic friends have put him on,,For when that Pedastal Topples His fall will be A HARD one to tolerate, and who knows what a Stubborn Brat is Capable of doing then.?
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David
5:19 pm
Sep 14, 2011
As regards the terrorist attack near Eilat, the media seems to have completely forgotten the initial report that certain of the attackers were wearing Egyptian uniforms.
As to the Mavi Marmara, the conclusion that Israel used excess force, supported in part by the observation that some of the dead had been shot from behind, seems facile. If thugs wielding iron bars and knives are attacking your comrades in close combat, the only way to rescue them may be to shoot the attackers from behind. And was the Palmer Commission able to verify that they were shot during the fight and not posthumously, for PR reasons, after the bodies were handed back to the Turks?
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Tony
5:27 pm
Sep 14, 2011
Nathan
Very interesting Facts,, about Erdogan,, Where may one find these “Historic” moments??I would like to refer friends,and Others, to these interesting findings ,,, Thank you:)
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Nathan Zafran
6:23 pm
Sep 14, 2011
Tony,
this article appeared several days ago in Israel’s daily Maariv. I belive it was written by Guy Bekhor, whom I always find fascinating. Maariv’s E-mail adress is cotvim@maariv.co.il. Yesterday I received the same item from an acquaintance but without the date on which it was published.
Nathan
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Nathan Zafran
6:53 pm
Sep 14, 2011
What moderation?
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dr.steve pastner
5:36 pm
Sep 14, 2011
A major card in Israel’s favor is Turkey’s longstanding bid to enter the European Union.
Turkey is openly and preeningly becoming an ally and advocate for entities properly deemed ‘terrorist’or ‘terrorist sympathizers” in the West( e.g iran, gaza under Hamas, the growing anti israel/islamist ‘mobocracy’ in Egypts badly named ‘arab spring’) .
So i’d imagine European powers ,already wary -to- deeply disturbed about Islamism in europe, could be easily dissuaded from voting Turkey into their Union if Turkey doesnt moderate its recent infalmmatory anti- Israel behavior and rhetoric… a point Israel and its American ally should be making forcefully and repeatedly at this juncture in history.
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Adam
5:50 pm
Sep 14, 2011
“May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year” (Leshanah tovah tikateiv veteichateim)The error is Turkeys. They knew they were doing something wrong that they would be stopped. They initiated the violence. The Palestinians would use any opportunity to import weapons which they have shown recently as the Palestinians causing the problem are fostering hate within their society and world. The only way Palestinians can live where they are is to become part of Israel and be represented proportionally as a minority. When one goes against G-d they allow hate and evil and toxic attitudes to fill their life and society creating blindness and defiance to truth which Palestinians and Muslims are doing. Perhaps they can try Dr. Caroline Leafs work on The Gift In You and other works; you can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink it. They should try principles of Jesus being in peace and love which he showed in true martyrdom. G-d is love. Shalom.
America and other things in world that people claim to be Satanic are graces given to mankind by God. Do not listen to propaganda to brainwash or by brainwashed persons conditioned by despotic totalitarian states and environs that condition to hate, whose idea of proportional representation is extortion or Jizya for protection and to live or practice normal form of religion in Christianity or Judaism as most obvious example but not including pagan religions or philosophies. Jizya a claimed tax taken in claimed humility by non-Muslims to practice their own religion and live under Muslim protection is an extortion or bribe. Any claim it is divine law is confusion and demented reasoning. Also radicals and others within Muslims claim Sharia law is divine while Constitutions are from human reasoning and law which is incorrect and it is the interpretation and application of those Constitutions allowing homosexuality, hedonism, Muslim which is hate and pagan, paganism, relativism, etc. which is done in western culture, which is what Muslims see as part of Constitution like others who are inconsistent with Constitutional jurisprudence and principles. The problem with this method of claimed law which is extortion is it will not stop at just one Muslim or group and whether you have paid someone already then others will come along and abuse persons and their position. It tends to create an environ where people will continue to stalk and swarm individuals, seen in other cultures in crime where once they see or have an opportunity they will continue to come and become violent if one resists. Jizya is actually a practice from pre Islamic culture found in every culture past and present to varying degrees including the way people raise or treat their children to varying degrees.
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Person
8:04 pm
Sep 14, 2011
You do know the UN released another report deeming the blockade illegal, so this article makes no sense, here is the article on haaretz: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/un-independent-panel-rules-israel-blockade-of-gaza-illegal-1.384267
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Amit
11:20 pm
Sep 14, 2011
UN Human Rights Council… well… hmmm….
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reiska
2:09 am
Sep 15, 2011
Best to take any report issued by the corrupt United Nations concerning Israel with a gain of salt, and then throw it in the rubbish bin.
Time and time again this corrupt tool of Islam has proven itself incapable of delivering a fair and objective opinion based on facts about Israel.
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person
12:22 pm
Sep 20, 2011
The Palmer Report was commissioned by the U
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Ori
9:47 pm
Sep 14, 2011
You mean Israel missed an opportunity to run with a positive PR position? Again? This is hardly news – it pretty much describes Israel’s inability to respond in a TIMELY manner to something, ANYTHING, positive. It drives me nuts every time Israel is silent when she should be shouting the news to the world. Until Israel gets around to it, it will – as always – be too late. And again, Israel’s detractors will win by default.
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Emes
10:07 pm
Sep 14, 2011
If they have such a rach-munis, how come the Turks didn’t do an air-drop to the Tibetans, probably because the Chinese would show a bit more heavy-handedness than that what they experienced in Israeli waters – or, what about sending aid to the famine in Africa, where their own religious peoples are suffering – and then again, what about sending aid to Greece, there’s an example of a country that needs some support right now! – can’t see that happening, not Jewish enough to offend.
Whatever happened on the Mavi Mamara was nothing compared to the ill-gotten gains by the Turks in the Mediterranean in the 1550s – there was kidnapping of Jews, usually from Christian ships where there was intermittent wars between the two races. Dreadful beatings and torture of Jewish traders occurred, Jews were valued as captives and negotiations were considered for high ransom, if not, slavery was the result. Even then, Jews wore yellow cloth to distinguish them from the rest of the other slaves.
It was Napoleon who ended this 300 year slave trade.
With all the wars and conflicts going on at present, I cannot see the Turks “pushing the boat out” to help anyone who they may consider are “underdogs.”
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suzette ross
10:10 pm
Sep 14, 2011
Yes….totally frustrating Ori.
Also the biggest problem with Honest Reporting is that it is preaching to the “converted” so to speak…. …how do we get others to read some of the reports…if Israel’s PR system seems to fail so often.
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Cliff Ross
11:28 pm
Sep 14, 2011
The problem is that Israel HAS NO IDEA how to counter bad press or outright lies presented by Arabs or Muslims. They (Arabs and Muslims ) keep attacking the truth with lies and bullcrap to take attention away from that truth. Israel, hire some ad-men, quickly.!
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HR Comment: Turkey Tantrum Burying Palmer Report « THE BLACK KETTLE
11:23 pm
Sep 14, 2011
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David
11:37 pm
Sep 14, 2011
Further to the point I made at 5.19pm, the Palmer Commission was set up quite some time after the fight on the ship, so it might not have been easy to determine whether bodies were shot after death. The IDF would have needed to strip them and take detailed photographs before handing them back, which might have inflamed passions further.
I’m just a layman. Have any of you expertise in these matters?
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Brent Pudsey
12:34 am
Sep 15, 2011
The media needs to be less biased and to let the world know what Palmer wrote on behalf of the United Nations.
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