Monday, March 25, 2013

MIDDLE EAST - Last Day of Obama's Diplomacy Trip

"In Call Brokered by Obama, Turkey's Erdogan Gets Apology From Netanyahu" (Part-1) PBS Newshour 3/22/2013

Excerpt

MARGARET WARNER (Newshour):  The last working day of President Obama's Middle East trip saw an unexpected breakthrough on an issue that has hampered U.S. efforts to contain the conflict in Syria, a long-simmering dispute between Israel and Turkey.

On the Ben Gurion Airport tarmac before leaving Israel, the president facilitated an ice-breaking phone call between Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Turkey's Prime Minister Erdogan.  Despite shared concerns about the Syria conflict and other eruptions in the region, they haven't been speaking for nearly three years.

Mr. Netanyahu apologized today for the death of nine Turkish activists during a 2010 Israeli commando raid on an aid ship bound for blockaded Gaza.  That had brought a sudden halt to what had been security cooperation between the two countries.  Today, Erdogan and Netanyahu agreed to normalize relations again.  The president spoke of the call and the importance of that relationship this evening in Amman, Jordan.



"Obama Pledges Help to Jordan on the Syrian Refugee Crisis" (Part-2) PBS Newshour 3/22/2013

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  President Obama traveled to Amman, Jordan, the first Arab country he has visited since the Arab Spring uprising two years ago.  In a joint press conference with King Abdullah, Mr. Obama pledged to help Jordan with the growing Syrian refugee crisis.  Judy Woodruff talks to Margaret Warner, reporting from Amman.

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