Grotesque theatre succeeded brilliantly

This article was published in The Australian 2 June 2010

This may turn out to be a pivotal moment in the Middle East.

Not because of the loss of life, which was tragic, but alas not uncommon in the Middle East.

Not because of the public relations disaster for Israel.

The Jewish state was sucker-punched by demonstrators determined to provoke an ugly Israeli reaction and international PR disaster.

By beating Israeli sailors nearly to death as soon as they landed, the protesters made a violent reaction inevitable. You cannot attempt to kill armed soldiers without suffering casualties.

Nor is the real significance of this incident that there will be another global round of Israel-bashing. That happens all the time.

No, the real strategic significance of the violence off the northern coast of Israel lies in Turkey.