Not well, according to Israel’s new Minister of Economy and Trade Naftali Bennett, who should know. Bennett had this to say on his official facebook page:
It seems that since [Netanyahu’s] apology, Erdogan is doing everything to make Israel regret it. He is running a personal and vitriolic campaign at the expense of Israeli-Turkish relations.
For example, Erdogan has announced that he intends to visit Gaza, and has stated that despite Israel’s apology, it is still too early to drop the case against IDF generals accused by Ankara of being responsible for the deaths. The Turks apparently are holding out for compensation to the tune of $1 million for each person killed in the Marmara incident, ten times more than what Israel has offered to pay.
In addition, Erdogan takes the position that it is too soon to fully restore diplomatic ties with Israel and appoint new ambassadors. What, then, has Israel received in exchange for its humiliating and morally bankrupt apology?
Meanwhile, it appears that Israel may have more for which to apologize to Turkey. The Turks reportedly are angry with Israel’s Minister of Justice Tsipi Livni. Her offense? She labeled Erdogan an “Arab leader.” I don’t know whether these are “fighting words,” but the Turks certainly don’t view them as flattery.
It was left to Deputy Knesset Speaker Moshe Feiglin, the first Likud MK to criticize Netanyahu’s apology, to speak truth to foolishness:
So we apologized to the Turks – did that bring peace? It was a big mistake. The more you tell Arabs [sic] that they are the right side, the more violence will increase.
Of course, and Netanyahu knows this. Does Obama? Does he care?
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