Did the Obama Admin. Intentionally Exclude Israel from a Major Counterterrorism Conference?
- Posted on June 11, 2012 at 8:26am by
Sharona Schwartz
- Print »
- Email »
An Israeli newspaper is reporting that the U.S. blocked Israel’s participation in a meeting of the State Department’s flagship counterterrorism project, the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF). Considering Israel’s vast experience in fighting terror as a result of its frequent targeting by Palestinian terrorism, it’s surprising that Israel would be excluded from the meeting which took place on Friday in Istanbul. Globes reports:
A pro-Israeli source in Washington told “Globes” that Israel was excluded from the meeting because of fierce objections by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Israel tried hard to obtain an invitation to the meeting, and its exclusion, despite the tight US-Israeli intelligence ties, has greatly disappointed officials in Jerusalem.
The GCTF, one of the pillars of President Barack Obama’s antiterrorism campaign, was established in September 2011. The White House calls the forum as a wise use of force against terrorism, and chose Turkey as the forum’s joint chair, together with the US.
But Israeli Foreign Ministry Spokesman Yigal Palmor tells The Blaze that, “We never planned to go and it wasn’t on the schedule.” He would not say if any Israeli officials had asked to attend, but pointed out that Israeli and U.S. officials held “our own counterterrorism dialogue” in Jerusalem last week, just days before the Istanbul meeting.
An Israeli official who asked not to be named told The Blaze Israel is confident it will be included in the forum later on and will participate in working groups, and emphasized the “excellent dialogue with the U.S. on counterterrorism.” He lays blame for Israel’s exclusion on Turkey:
“The Turks have been behaving with irrational rage when it comes to Israel.”
That official says Israel is not the only target of this so-called “irrational” behavior, and points to Turkey’s threat to boycott contact with the European Union presidency when Cyprus takes over the rotating the position on July 1.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu
According to its website, the Global Counterterrorism Forum’s aim is to help countries at the forefront in the fight against terrorism to share their “experiences, expertise, strategies…”
The GCTF’s overarching and long-term goal is to reduce the vulnerability of people everywhere to terrorism by effectively preventing, combating, and prosecuting terrorist acts and countering incitement and recruitment to terrorism.
The organization has 30 members, of which 10 are Muslim countries including Algeria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
GOP sources tell Globes, “since one third of the GCTF’s members are Muslim countries, the Obama administration is trying to deepen ties with the Muslim world at Israel’s expense. “
At last Wednesday’s State Department briefing, a reporter asked Spokesman Mark Toner:
…do you know why the Israelis weren’t invited to this conference on counterterrorism? The U.S. is the co-chair of it. Israel has in the past expressed an interest. I mean, I realize it’s only a year old, but they wanted to be in it. It seems to be germane to the issues that they face in the world, and they also happen to be a counterterrorism partner of the U.S. Do you have any explanation as to why they – their attempt to get in and participate was rejected?
MR. TONER: I’m not – it’s not clear to me that it was rejected, but certainly, as you mentioned in your question, they are a counterterrorism partner with the United States and with many of the countries in this group. So that’s certainly something we would look upon favorably, but I’m not aware that any formal request has been made.
Toner said he’d look into the question, and later the State Department spokesman’s office released this follow-up guidance, which rephrased the reporter’s question and therefore didn’t directly respond to it:
Question: Has Israel requested membership to the Global Counterterrorism Forum? Has the United States, as a co-host of the forum, sought to get Israel involved?
Answer: Our idea with the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) was to bring together a limited number of traditional donors, front line states, and emerging powers develop a more robust, yet representative, counterterrorism capacity-building platform. A number of our close partners with considerable experience countering and preventing terrorism are not included among the GCTF’s founding members.
We have discussed the GCTF and ways to involve Israel in its activities on a number of occasions, and are committed to making this happen.
Globes quotes pro-Israel sources in Washington who characterize the Obama administration as ignoring the fact that Turkey – which co-chairs the GCTF – opposes calling Hamas a terrorist group, even though Hamas continues to be on the State Department’s list of terror organizations.
Israeli-Turkish relations continue to be strained over the attempt in 2010 by the pro-Palestinian Gaza flotilla to break Israel’s sea blockade of Gaza. Nine Turkish nationals were killed in a fight with Israeli soldiers who had boarded their boat, the Mavi Marmara.
Just last month, Israel was excluded from the NATO summit in Chicago, while Turkey and Pakistan attended.
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 685 Comments
‘Jumah at the DNC’ Speaker: ‘Muslims Visited America Prior to Columbus’ & ‘It Was a Muslim’ Who Guided Him to the ‘New World’ 534 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 445 Comments
Obama: RNC Like Watching ‘Black-and-White TV’ Because Romney ‘Did Not Offer a Single New Idea’ 373 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 331 Comments
Faith
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 288 Comments- Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More
- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 296 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 187 Comments- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 148 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 301 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 288 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (126)
MichiganPatriot
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 11:57amI stand with Israel, but I’m an American who wants a true constitutionalists as president not a flip flop progressive.Just because a person supports Ron Paul does not mean he hates Israel. Paul would protect and stand with Israel, they are an Ally. I think that too many people get the wrong impression about Paul. We are making a mistake by siding with Romney, the beast has already won.
Report Post »rawmilker
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 12:16pmThe real terrorists are all right in that photo above. White collar criminals of the world right there. The GWOT is a hoax designed to strip us of our basic liberties and freedoms all the while they get our tax $$ to fund their little anti terror scheme and corporations that make alot of money off of anti terror systems, gear and weapons.
Same deal with Homeland Security and TSA..
The Turks are an evil regime & should not be trusted…
Report Post »MasterJoshua7
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 12:25pmIran isn’t a threat? Do you really believe that, that a nuclear Iran would be no threat?
I don’t, I think that would be disasterous. I can;t vote for Ron Paul, even if I thought he could win as a third party candidate.
Report Post »lexington_green
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 12:41pmrawmilk is right. and look at that puffy-faced, botox shooting witch leading the cabal. she will sell us all down the river for the sake of her own hunger for power and control. traitorous monster.
Report Post »progoyim
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 1:05pm@rawmilker
Report Post »So true Israel already knows how to ethnical cleanse a area and make it look legal in their own eyes.
Not one dollar ,not one Us life for the sand pit at the eastern end of the Mediterranean
mils
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 1:10pmso go ahead and side with obama..your choice..
Report Post »progoyim
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 2:11pmI truly dislike Obama .All these disloyal aprick types and born again Christians’ dumb $ss people say Obama doesn’t support the sand pitt.The only thing I have heard him say was disagreements about building a set of apartments .How dare he say anything to a Jew. Would have thought he $crew the Pooch
Report Post »Obama and Israel are still playing good cop bad cop with world opinion, He still supports them in the UN
Has agreed to boost aid to the leeches in the sand pit, has not removed any of the billons of dollars in military equipment supposedly stationed in Israel for U.S. use but is available to I.D.F. I cant find any thing
He has done against the sand pit
GO RAND PAUL ON THE RISE 2016 !
Hollywood
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 2:44pmPaul has some strong points, but he has stated he is an ISOLATIONIST,but,I agree he would back Israel, whereas, Barry says he will,and does publicly, but stabs them in the back, every chane he gets. One MUST start wondering about his “Christian” views, v/s his Muslim upbringing. I think he is the Latter,and a Wolf in sheeps’ clothing. Israel doesn’t, and shouldn’t trust him, and neither should anyone else.
Report Post »WakingSheep
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 5:07pmHasn’t anybody told you guys?! We and a handful of other nations know what is best for Israel.
They can’t take care of themselves or run their country without us telling them how.
Their president even pleaded with our Congress stating as much. BAA
Oop sorry, He was stating that they can take care of themselves. We don’t need to hear that though.
Report Post »We know what’s best.
Ghostmaker
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 7:00pmAt this point in time I fear more another Obama term in office then I do Mr. Flip Flop. Paul isolationist foreign policy ideas did not work prior in or history and will not work toady even more so.
Report Post »don young
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 11:29amHow long is it going to take you to realize obama does not like israel.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 12:31pmNeither does Hillary .. they are both pro Palestinian terr or ists.
Report Post »lexington_green
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 12:43pmshe’s the one leading us down the path to globalist hell. he’s a patsy for the designs she and soros are orchestrating. most dangerous secretary of state we have ever had.
Report Post »rawmilker
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 6:07pmHitlery admits that the US Govt created Al-Qeada…
http://youtu.be/ifZK6SVlQ1Y
The Mujahideen were the “database” of Al-Qaeda assets. Al-Qaeda are a controlled opposition force of the Central Intelligence Agency to promote their middle east destabilization process, to give empirical U.S. Military Industrial Complex a reason to invade wherever they want in the ever widening “war on terror” fraud.
http://tv.globalresearch….
Report Post »Yaya2
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 11:00amAny Jewish person who continues to support this administration has lost his/her reasoning abilities. Obama has shown in his actions his contempt for Israel and the Jewish state…someone who is Jewish please explain your devotion to this man.
Report Post »Zipit
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 11:36amLike Rush says, “liberal first, Jew second”, no matter what they have to jump into bed with!!!
Report Post »lexington_green
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 12:45pmjewish guilt + white guilt = domestic and international socialist nightmare
Report Post »KoolAidDrinker
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:47amDid the Obama Admin. Intentionally Exclude Israel from a Major Counter-terrorism Conference?
Do bears crap in the woods?
Report Post »palerider54
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:46amCome on now people, are you trying to say that it is more than just pure coincidence that everything this administration does is anti-Christian, anti-Church rights, pro-Islam, pro-everything that is damaging to America.
Reminds me of Satan’s minions saying. there is no devil, its all a fairytale, nothing to worry about here.
Move along now and ignore all the facts. Nothing to see here.
On the other hand, all of Obamas actions could be taken right out of the script of the Left Behind series. Are we sure Obamas real name is not Nicolae Carpathia.
Report Post »Delores at CH WV
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:26amOf course they did. Now, retitle the picture. Most wanted people on the planet or Step forward if you are not a Communist.
Report Post »lynnissmart
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:22amyougottobekidding: Huh??
Report Post »needmoinfo
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:07amHow does Turkey get to disinvite our ally. US should have stayed home before settling for that. This is a sign of weakness on Obama’s part. He dumps on England too. Who’s side is he on?
Report Post »lexington_green
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 12:47pm“if the political winds should shift in an ugly direction, i will stand with the muslims.” barack obama.
clear?
Report Post »msoeguy
Posted on June 13, 2012 at 5:23pm@LEXINGTON_GREEN
Here is the full quote (and correct wording) that you have taken out of context:
“Of course, not all my conversations in immigrant communities follow this easy pattern. In the wake of 9/11, my meetings with Arab and Pakistani Americans, for example, have a more urgent quality, for the stories of detentions and FBI questioning and hard stares from neighbors have shaken their sense of security and belonging. They have been reminded that the history of immigration in this country has a dark underbelly; they need specific assurances that their citizenship really means something, that America has learned the right lessons from the Japanese internments during World War II, and that I will stand with them should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.”
A little harder to misinterpret that as sinister, isn’t it?
Report Post »needmoinfo
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:00amFrom the picture it looks like at least 2 dozen people were invited. Is this musical chairs? It is Turkey’s turn to be excluded a few times.
Report Post »Tri-ox
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 9:53amSo, what’s new (?) – obama is a flaming anti-Semite and a sworn enemy of Israel – how many times do we need to be reminded?
Report Post »NOBALONEY
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 9:18amLays blame on Turkey? Turkey banned Israel fron the NATO meeting in Chicago. Turkey, like Afghanistan can’t be trusted! Afghanistan, and Pakistan were at the SCO meeting in Shanghai June 6-7. Afghanistan‘s Karzai made agreement with China’s Hu. Turkey’s Erddgan has also made trade and agreements with both Russia and China. China has agreed to build three more nuclear plants for Turkey by 2023.
Report Post »NATO is a shell of itself, and America has lost it’s stature in foreign affairs, because of the inept, weak, and foolish actions of Obama, Clintion, Panetta, and Geithner. The ‘reset’, apology tour, and bowing down to China, Russia, and Iran has embolden them to belittle the P5+1, “Friends of Syria”, IAEA, and the U. N. non-proliferation treaty. .
WakingSheep
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 5:46pmThink it might have more to do with our empire abroad? Does China or Russia currently occupy any sovereign nations?
Just a thought.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 9:09am“DID THE OBAMA ADMIN. INTENTIONALLY EXCLUDE ISRAEL FROM A MAJOR COUNTERTERRORISM CONFERENCE?”……Well, duh!
Report Post »starman70
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 9:39amWHAT ELSE WOULD EXPECT FROM THIS ADMINISTRATION?
rqd lc:
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 9:44amSTARMAN70, Exactly that, and the other idiotic, destructive things they do.
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 1:55pmI seem to remember that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was calling for a Caliphate last year. I can’t find the video but here are 2 links;
http://www.prophecynewswatch.com/2010/March12/1262.html
http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/03/turkey_and_the_restoration_of.html
Why would the US allow this Country to co-chair and exclude Israel unless the WH and State Dept wants a Caliphate also. Very sad….
Report Post »kaydeebeau
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 9:05amIs water wet?
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 9:02amConsidering his hatered for Israel, and the fact the State Dept had placed Israel on the list as state sponsors of terrorism; I will emphatically say yes.
Report Post »drbage
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:03amDon’t forget the non-leaked from the WH according to Axelrod(as the campaign manager why is he attending/participating in the National Security Council meetings?) and the diligent reporting of the NYT(not from any insider according to the NYT) the US is responsile for the Stuxnet virus in Iran and oh, by the way, the Israelis helped us do it. Wonder is any government or rebel group looks at this and questions what Obama’s “extended hand of friendship” really means. About the only secret that this regime and their lamestream media acolytes are good at keeping/hiding is the real truth about who Obama is and what he really hopes to accomplish.
Report Post »lexington_green
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 12:50pmthe clumsy pandering he is doing with these leaks, finally releasing drilling permits, sending operatives into black churches, etc. is so shameful i want to puke.
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 8:58amThis kind of organization is all theater. It means nothing except for creating the illusion of action. It is a perfect example of a goat rope.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 9:10amVery likely why the more serious Israel was left out.
Report Post »lexington_green
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 12:55pmit’s not counterterrorism, it‘s a globalists’ networking seminar.
Report Post »goodinohio
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 8:47amBeing forced to kill innocent people is taking a toll. One death-a-day: Military suicides reach terrifying rate — RT http://goo.gl/VFwSK
Report Post »yougottabekidding
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 9:17amSo what percent of the suicides are actual combat vets the article
Report Post »does not say? We have lowered our standards for PC
We have military phycologist that are Muslim executing our hero’s
what does that tell me?
barber2
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 9:26amGOOD: Always interesting to hear from the General-Betray-Us Crowd….
Report Post »kaptainkaffir
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 1:51pmPeople enlist in the Military KNOWING they may have to take somebody’s life. Whether your a cook, or an elite Ranger. That’s why they undergo weapons training at boot camp.
Report Post »The highest suicide rate is in recruiting command, not combat vets.
What an idiotic post………….
lynnissmart
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 8:44amEverything , and I mean everything this pos admin. does is deliberate…devisive, derisive, demonic, demanding, decaying and disgusting……what say you?
Report Post »yougottabekidding
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 8:55amSome Jewish people explain to me just what the hell you
Report Post »people see in this, arguably, Muslim?
It has to be the pity me thing, you’ve done it for centuries,
Nobody can be that stupid
barber2
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 9:37amLYNN: And the Obama re-election committee must be so happy today ! They just got a glowing endorsement from Fidel Castro’s daughter ! Yippee. Now isn’t that a shock ? Now aren’t you surprised as all heck ? An avowed Communist endorsing our “Redistributor-in-Chief ?”
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 8:41amA pro-Israeli source in Washington told “Globes” that Israel was excluded from the meeting because of fierce objections by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
So there’s someone in D.C these days that’s pro Israel? When did that happen?
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 8:40amTerrorism is not even an issue, more people are attacked by so called “police” than by terrorists.
Report Post »Magyar
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 8:49amMy, my…you might just be right. Let’s ask the Cubans, Chinese and the North Koreans and don’t forget the Syrians, Iraqis, Libyans and the Egyptians.
Golly, you’re smart!
Report Post »Baja
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 8:52amTell that to those who lost loved ones on 9/11. Since you clearly seem to know little about history, INDIVIDUALISM doesn’t exactly flourish in a socialistic/communist utopia you dream about.
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 9:19aminside job demand justice against goverment for it.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 9:20amINDIVIDUALISM, Damn those police and their suicide bomb vests. Damn those police for their roadside IEDs. Damn those police for attacking packed school buses with machine guns. Damn those police for showering neighborhoods with rocket attacks. Damn those police for using their deadly mortars.
INDIVIDUALISM, over a number of months I have read your posts and agreed with some while disagreeing with some. But, in the last few months you have completely come off your freakin’ rocker. You have talked yourself into obscurity and are becoming as inane as our former ITS_JUST_TIM. Give it a rest, and while you do, please seek professional help. Run some brain floss through your ears and come back with a cleaner open mind.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 9:31amINDI is back with more of his “ anti ” rants..
Report Post »barber2
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 9:33amRJJ: Think you’ve identified our INDI…or it’s his twin…
Report Post »BehindBlueEyes
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 9:47am@INDIVIDUALISM
Report Post »Please enlighten us with your facts. Give us the source for your statement otherwise we can assume its a figment of your imagination.
Individualism
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:22amthe towers fell as a controlled demolition would.
Report Post »BehindBlueEyes
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 1:00pm@individ
Report Post »I agree with the other poster. You need professional help.
Baja
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 8:40amShould be GTF.
Report Post »RayOne
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 8:37amOf Course,
Report Post »his globalist agenda punishes them first, the US next.
barber2
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 9:30amBingo..they are on that bus labeled ” democracy.” Unfortunately, they’re really headed for different destinations and the bus has been mislabeled ! “ Chaos” would be more honest…
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 8:35amHmmm…….Hillary looks like she has had a makeover in that pic. Wonder what Billary is planning behind the scenes……
Report Post »Baja
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 8:42amAnd who said you can’t polish a turd?
Report Post »lexington_green
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 12:54pmbotox update.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 8:33amAnother impotent international panel of blowhards, Israel you’re not missing a thing.
Report Post »justasurvivor
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 8:32amOf course it was intentional.
Report Post »After all, everyone knows Israel is doing fine.
Just like the private sector.
copatriots
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 8:30amYes, it’s somewhat difficult to buddy up with the Muslim Bros with Israel in attendance.
Next question………
Report Post »RamonPreston
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 8:33amI think you hit the nail on the head.
Report Post »justangry
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 8:35amNah, it’s all about Nato, Turkey in Nato, and Turkey’s anger at Israel for attacking their ship in international waters. So much for entangling alliances, eh?
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 9:02amJUSTANGRY sounds like Obama is trying to pick up some PaulBot votes……..
Report Post »justangry
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 9:12am@Republicorp, WTF is that supposed to mean? Seriously, give it a rest, downy.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 9:28amREPUB: Posers all…
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:26amno paul voters don‘t give **** about israel but we don’t hate it. but it seems they only drag us into trouble.
Report Post »justangry
Posted on June 11, 2012 at 4:13pmI don‘t believe that’s true, Individualism. Besides it’s not like Turkey is innocent in the matter. I’m just arguing against entangling alliances, not picking a side between Turkey and Israel.
Report Post »