Ten missile-ship captains in the Navy reserve force Sunday, June 6, demanded that the Israeli government and defense forces institute a separate panel to study the operational, intelligence and tactical failings of the May 31 Israel commando raid of the Turkish Mavi Marmara. Their protest coincided with an IDF ban on travel to Turkey for all members of Israel's armed, security and police forces. 

Turkish PM Recep Erdogan is spoiling for more trouble with Israel, irrespective of the peaceful outcome of the Rachel Corrie incident. debkafile's sources disclose his funding of the IHH terrorist group's purchase of 8-10 large vessels for more Gaza flotillas. He has secretly replaced professional intelligence and security chiefs with Islamist cronies. Rising demand for the international probe against Israel to also focus on the Turkish government's ties with a terrorist group.

Turkey builds up and holds ready for action against Israel a large air, sea and marine force in the Turkish sector of Cyprus should Israel stand by its refusal to lift the Gaza blockade and stop Turkish boats bound for the enclave.

Israel blinded itself to the changing winds in Ankara after pro-Islamic Recep Erdogan succeeded in gaining control of Turkey's armed forces. This enabled Turkish intelligence to lay a trap for Israel.

The Turkish leader is sinking millions of dollars to build a large new flotilla for blowing Israel's blockade sky high and tightening the international diplomatic siege around Israel.

Hamas suddenly discovered that its most effective weapon against Israel is not the Iranian missiles but Turkish-led blockade-busting ships and their propaganda impact.

Five planes flew out of Israel Wednesday night, June 2, carrying hundreds of foreign passengers and nine bodies from the Turkish-led flotilla Israeli commandos raided and prevented from breaking the Gaza blockade two days ago. After surrendering to Turkey's ultimatum to release all the passengers, including the seven members of Islamist terrorist groups who assaulted the Israeli boarding party, debkafile reports the Netanyahu government faced a fresh ultimatum from Ankara: Lift the Gaza blockade now.

The war projected between Israel and the Iran-led bloc of Syria, Hizballah and Hamas is suddenly overshadowed by Turkish-Israeli hostilities over a deadly Israeli commando raid on an aid flotilla from Istanbul. Against the US president Barack Obama's bid to bridge the rift, Turkish generals are drawing up plans to break Israel's Gaza blockade and avenge 9 deaths, while Israel is bound by its war on terror to thwart them. DEBKA-Net-Weekly offers details of their preparations on the brink. To subscribe to DEBKA-Net-Weekly, click here

More...