Extraordinary diplomatic maneuver by President Obama in arranging the historic apology Friday made by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan over the 2010 Mavi Marmara incident. Who saw that coming? Well, thank goodness. Excessive tensions between Ankara and Jerusalem do neither the U.S. nor these two American allies in the region any good. Nobody should think for a moment, however, that this breakthrough will restore the quasi-alliance between Israel and Turkey. Those days are over.
By contrast, German and EU actions that triggered the Cyprus crisis seem ham-handed and completely unnecessary. Again, who saw this coming? By picking on a tiny island nation comprising a reported 0.2% of the EU economy - that, yes, does need to get its act together - Chancellor Merkel has invited Russia into sticky EU matters where it doesn't belong. Could it be that Berlin's desire to damage Russian oligarchs' offshore accounts in Cyprus has completely backfired?
Twitter @jessicamcwade
By contrast, German and EU actions that triggered the Cyprus crisis seem ham-handed and completely unnecessary. Again, who saw this coming? By picking on a tiny island nation comprising a reported 0.2% of the EU economy - that, yes, does need to get its act together - Chancellor Merkel has invited Russia into sticky EU matters where it doesn't belong. Could it be that Berlin's desire to damage Russian oligarchs' offshore accounts in Cyprus has completely backfired?
Twitter @jessicamcwade