Israel's bloody, bungled takeover of a Gaza-bound Turkish aid vessel is complicating US-led Mideast peace efforts, deepening Israel's international isolation and threatening to destroy the Jewish state's ties with key regional ally Turkey. And while Israel had hoped to defend its oppressive blockade of Hamas-ruled Gaza with Monday's high-seas raid, it instead appeared to be hastening the embargo's demise, judging by initial international condemnation. The pre-dawn commando operation, which killed 19 pro-Palestinian activists, was also sure to strengthen Gaza's Hamas rulers at the expense of US allies in the region, key among them Hamas' main rival, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, as well as Egypt and Jordan. “The attack on a humanitarian mission ... will only further alienate the international community and isolate Israel while granting added legitimacy to Hamas' claim to represent the plight of the Palestinian people,” said Scott Atran, an analyst at the University of Michigan. The Mediterranean bloodshed dealt another blow to the Obama administration's efforts to get peace talks back on track. It raised new questions about one of the pillars of US policy – that Hamas can be left unattended as Washington tries to broker a peace deal between Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The raid tested US-Israeli ties that have not yet fully recovered from their most serious dispute in decades, triggered by Israeli construction plans in occupied east Jerusalem. In the most immediate fallout, the interception of the six-boat flotilla carrying 10,000 tons of supplies for Gaza trained the global spotlight on the blockade of the territory. Israel and Egypt sealed Gaza's borders after Hamas overran the territory in 2007, wresting control from Abbas-loyal forces. The inhumane blockade was done under the pretext of squeezing the militants. Instead, it has driven ordinary Gazans deeper into poverty and emerged as a constant source of friction and instability. Israel has constantly broken promises and crossed all limits of sanity. In trying to shake off the blockade, Hamas intensified harmless rocket fire on Israeli border towns. Israel used that as justification to launch a three-week military offensive against Gaza 16 months ago killing over a 1,000 people. After the war, the international community remained reluctant to push hard for an end to the blockade, for fear it could prolong the rule of Hamas, branded a terrorist organization by the West. But after Monday's deadly clash, Israel may find itself under growing pressure to at least ease the blockade significantly. European diplomats on Monday demanded a swift end to the border closure, while US officials said statements would call for greater assistance to the people of Gaza. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation. The fate of US-led indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinians was uncertain. Netanyahu canceled a scheduled Tuesday meeting with President Barack Obama in Washington, and the status of a planned visit to Washington by Abbas next week was not immediately clear. Abbas temporarily walked away from the negotiations in March, after Israel announced more housing for Jews in traditionally Arab east Jerusalem. But while the Palestinian leader denounced Monday's ship raid as a “sinful massacre,” he signaled he would keep going with the indirect talks. Abbas told senior officials of his Fatah movement and the Palestine Liberation Organization that there is no need to quit since the Palestinians are talking to the US and not to Israel, according to his adviser Mohammed Ishtayeh. Relations between Abbas and Hamas have become increasingly vitriolic, and extending Hamas rule by lifting the blockade would run counter to Abbas' objectives. Abbas must now make a credible effort to open Gaza's borders, said Palestinian analyst Hani Al-Masri. “Otherwise, he will be viewed as weak or part of the siege and lose the support of his people,” Al-Masri said. Israel also appears close to destroying its relationship with Turkey. Turkey decided to scrap three military drills involving Israel and withdraw its ambassador. Turkey established close military ties with Israel in 1996 under US pressure. Today, the government's sensitivities about the plight of Muslims are reshaping Turkish foreign policy.
