Clinton says Israel can investigate itself

"Unfortunately, that position is par for the course, concerning U.S.-Israeli relations," said Zachary Lockman, professor of Middle Eastern Studies and History at New York University. "The U.S. has not taken an even-handed approach to the Middle East in decades, but continues to support Israel, even when Israel takes self-sabotaging actions like it did against the Turkish ships."

Lockman pointed out that Turkey has had, for the most part, a positive relationship with Israel in recent years, and is considered Israel's sole friend among Muslim nations. But incidents like Monday's military operation were bound to strain relations, he said. As Clinton noted, Israel and Turkey are both strong Middle East allies of the United States.

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Six ships originating in Turkey, carrying 600 relief workers, termed activists by Israel, and 10,000 tons of supplies for Palestinians in the Gaza strip, attempted to break the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza on Monday. Details remain sketchy, but Israel commandos from dinghies and helicopters forcibly boarded the vessels, at least one of which was flying the Turkish flag. At least 10 people aboard the ships were killed, and the ships and remaining passengers taken captive by Israeli forces.

Israeli officials said their marines were met with gunfire and knives when they boarded the ships.

Turkey recalled its ambassador from Israel and Turkish President Abdullah Gul demanded that the culprits be punished. The European Union demanded an inquiry and France and Germany said they were "shocked." The United Nations condemned violence against civilians in international waters.

Israel's deputy foreign minister, Danny Ayalon, blamed the activists for the violence and branded them allies of Israel's Islamist enemies Hamas and al Qaeda. Had they got through, he said, they would have opened an arms smuggling route to Gaza.

There was no question of easing the blockade, Ayalon said. Professor Lockman noted that the U.S. has staunchly backed the blockade, aimed at weakening Hamas' control of Gaza.

Lockman said people around the world, including in Israel, were hopeful of a new direction in Middle East policy under the Obama administration.

"But it's really been just more of the same," he said, noting that Obama's Middle East policy is not much different than that of the George W. Bush administration.

"Most of the nations in the world have come to believe that a two-state solution is the only way out of the bloody mess in the Middle East," Lockman said. "Israel should allow a Palestinian state and cease its stranglehold on Gaza. Those ships were just bringing aid to the impoverished Palestinians. It's not their fault that they are under Hamas' rule."