Palestinians arrive in Turkey after captive swap

(Reuters) - Eleven Palestinians made V-for-victory signs as they arrived in Turkey early on Wednesday as part of the thousand-for-one prisoner exchange, television pictures showed.

Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and hundreds of Palestinians crossed Israel's borders in opposite directions on Tuesday under the swap, one of the biggest ever such exchanges between the two sides.

A private plane flew the ten men and one woman from Cairo to the Turkish capital Ankara, where they were met at Esenboga Airport by the Palestinian ambassador to Ankara Nabil Maarouf and Turkish foreign ministry officials.

"We are grateful to the Turkish government for its support in the process of releasing the Palestinians and bringing them to Turkey," state-run Anatolian news agency quoted Maarouf as telling reporters at the airport.

"God willing we will continue to seek Turkey's support until Palestine attains freedom," he added.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/19/us-palestinians-israel-turkey-idUSTRE79H4K520111019

Turkey has launched a military operation against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq, hours after the militants killed at least 24 soldiers and wounded 18 in attacks in southeastern Turkey near the Iraqi border.

News reports quote Turkish officials as saying at least 20 rebels were also killed in the fighting, as Turkish air force bombers hit targets in Iraq and helicopters ferried army troops into the region. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who canceled a trip to Kazakhstan, described the action as "hot pursuit" within the limits of international law, following the deadliest such Kurdish attack in years.

Turkish authorities say rebels from the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, opened fire on military outposts in Cukurca and Yuksekova in Turkey's Hakkari province earlier Wednesday. Kurdish rebels claimed responsibility, prompting President Abdullah Gul to tell reporters that "vengeance for these attacks will be great."

Last week, Turkey called on Iraq to stop the Kurdish rebels from attacking Turkey from Iraqi soil, saying its "patience is running out." Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Ankara is determined to eradicate the rebel threat in northern Iraq.


http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Turkey-Bombs-Kurdish-Rebels-in-Iraq-132132728.html

interesting indeed

however now that Turkey has taken in Palestinians released by Israel, Turkey will be held responsible for their actions if any and at the very least their words in the future, an anti-Turkey PR bonanza if ever there was

So is Israel.

I wonder if anyone will be asking for Turkey to apologize for whatever civilians end up getting killed in these attacks on another sovereign country.

from your article

in worldwide reaction to the raids, U.S. President Barack Obama condemned what he called an "outrageous terrorist attack," saying the United States will continue its strong cooperation with the Turkish government as it works to defeat the PKK. European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton called the attacks "shameful" and stressed the EU's continued support of Turkey in its fight against terrorism, saying the EU continues to view the PKK as a "terrorist" organization.

The Iraqi Army didn't attack anyone.

Like when terrorists from Egypt entered Israel and attacked Israelis - is that the same as Egypt attacking Israel?