Hello John and Doves,

 

The escalation between Turkey and Israel continues....

 

"Turkey stopped all exports and imports to and from Israel as of Thursday, the Turkish trade ministry said, citing "worsening humanitarian tragedy" in the Palestinian territories."

 

"Export and import transactions related to Israel have been stopped, covering all products," Turkey's trade ministry said in a statement."

 

The trade volume between Turkey and Israel in 2023 was $6.8 billion.

 

Israel's foreign minister said that this is "breaking agreements by blocking powers for Israeli imports and exports."

Turkey halts all trade with Israel, cites worsening Palestinian situation

 

Blinken met with Netanyahu on Wednesday "as he continues to push for a cease-fire deal that would include the release of all Israeli hostages held by the Iran-backed Hamas."  Blinken also met with officials in Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

 

"The push for a cease-fire comes amid growing expectations that Israel will launch a ground offensive into the southern border town of Rafah where more than 1 million Palestinians are sheltering from the war."

 

"The United States has been forthright that they are against the invasion...."We cannot, will not support a major military operation in Rafah absent an effective plan to make sure that civilians are not harmed," Blinken said.
Blinken meets Netanyahu in Israel amid push to secure cease-fire, prevent Rafah invasion

 

 

Meanwhile, Netanyahu has approved the plans for a Rafah military ground offensive and said that "the Israel Defense Forces would move in on the city "with or without a deal" to achieve his government's stated goal of destroying the Hamas militant group in response to its bloody Oct. 7 terrorist attack."

 

Netanyahu said "We will enter Rafah because we have no other choice.  We will destroy the Hamas battalions there, we will complete all the objectives of the war, including the return of the all our hostages."
Israel's Netanyahu is determined to launch a ground offensive in Rafah. Here's why, and why it matters. - CBS News

 

This should really get Erdogan going - his export/import blockade is being dismissed by Netanyahu and the IDF!!  And I doubt that Blinken/the U.S. have much credibility left in the Middle East - not after Afghanistan, the Niger fiasco, and the funding of billions to Iran (who's funding Hamas!).  He needs to butt out of the Middle East.  Soon the US will be of no importance anyway - as no country helps Israel in the Gog and Magog War.

 

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!

 

Maranatha!

 

Chance