[Mohoender]

Entirely agree with you especially about the mess. What is equally interesting about all this comes from the fact that we almost don't get one single public media report on it.

I agree that the blockade had been ruled as legal by the UN and it's a major fact.

The other major fact comes from the previous raid which was conducted 80 miles away from the coast of Israel, 190 miles away from Gaza. Then, legaly speaking Turkey has much valid ground to its position (despite Israel having equally valid ground) and I confess that I support it. I wouldn't expect my government to act otherwise.

Israel as a legal right to protect itself and a real need to do so (especially against Hamas)
Israel Navy, as any navy, can intervene whenever it wants in International waters against piracy, suspected piracy or to enforce a declared blockade (this is the weakest point but we have done the same repeatedly; therefore, yes). If there is no casualties, the result is: go back to your place, sea you next time. If casualties result from it, it becomes a bit more tricky.
Again, Israel has a right to enforce its blocus but not with a disproportionate use of force and not against international rules.

So far, Turkey has favored diplomacy for over a year.

By acting in international waters and killing 9 Turks, the Israeli commando has commited a fault (I don't think Israel or its people). Then, the Israeli government (which is now weak) in turn commited another fault by blindly supporting this mistake of a single military commander. The Turks whatever their attitude and intentions (revealed or not) were respecting international law by not having any firearm onboard. They acted violently, no doubt. Was it stupid, no doubt either. Still, the answer from the Israeli commando was one of pure military incompetence and poor planning. They had real reason to expect resistance by force and no reason to expect armed resistance. Obviously, they lacked the real means to incapacitate their oponents. If it had resulted in 1 or to people killed, it would have been acceptable. However, the result can compare to brutal russian interventions as in Beslan.

According to International Law and according to the dangerous situation that has arose in International waters over that part of the Mediterranean, The Turkish Navy has the duty to provide escort to Turkish ships and can do it up to 12 nautic miles off the coast of Israel. I strongly doubt that Turkey even think of entering Israel's Territorial waters within these 12 nautic miles off Israel's coast.

However, if it provides escort to its civillian ships up to 13-15 miles off the coast of Israel, Turkey remains in its right but we have reached a situation that is explosive for the least. If the Israel Navy still attempt to intervene before the civilian ship effectively reaches its territorial waters it would then have commited an act of war against another country and against a member of NATO. If the Turks fire first, they would have commited that act of war. Israel can still claim they were enforcing the blocus but Turkey can equally claim it was protecting its citizens.

My take is that it will be resolved without a shot being fired but my Twilight sickness sees in it the seeds of a potential international conflict.

One last thing. It is interesting to note that neither Turkey nor Israel have signed the UN convention on International waters.