25 july 2011
UN delays Israel's flotilla attack report
The United Nations has once again delayed the release of a report into Israel's deadly attack on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in 2010.
The UN's findings about the brutal incident, which left nine Turkish activists dead and many others wounded, was expected out on Wednesday.
It is the second time that the publication of the report, known as the Palmer report, had been delayed. It was initially to have been released around July 8.
"The secretary general has decided to postpone the publication of the report and he decided to consult both sides before taking the decision," Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor told AFP. He, however, refused to confirm reports suggesting that Israel had requested the delay.
According to Israeli sources, the long-awaited UN study will now be released on August 20.
Tel Aviv has been hard trying to mend its damaged relations with Ankara, devastated since the flotilla attack, before the publication of the report.
On Sunday, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that he hoped the repeatedly deferred publication would again be pushed back in order to give Israel more time to settle the diplomatic dispute with Turkey.
Turkey has repeatedly said that relations between the two sides can only be restored if Tel Aviv apologizes for the attack, compensates the families of those killed and the injured, and lifts its deadly blockade on the Gaza Strip.
Israel has reportedly agreed to a payout but is resisting calls to apologize, proposing instead to express regret.
On May 31, 2010, Israeli commandos attacked the six-vessel Gaza Freedom Flotilla in international waters to prevent the convoy from breaching its crippling blockade on the Palestinian territory.
In the assault, nine Turkish nationals, including a teenager with Turkish-US dual citizenship, were killed and dozens were injured.
Turkey said that some of the victims had been shot "execution-style" at point-blank.
Turkish post-mortem examinations also revealed that a total of 30 bullets were found in the bodies of the nine dead activists. One of the activists had been shot four times in the head.
The UN's findings about the brutal incident, which left nine Turkish activists dead and many others wounded, was expected out on Wednesday.
It is the second time that the publication of the report, known as the Palmer report, had been delayed. It was initially to have been released around July 8.
"The secretary general has decided to postpone the publication of the report and he decided to consult both sides before taking the decision," Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor told AFP. He, however, refused to confirm reports suggesting that Israel had requested the delay.
According to Israeli sources, the long-awaited UN study will now be released on August 20.
Tel Aviv has been hard trying to mend its damaged relations with Ankara, devastated since the flotilla attack, before the publication of the report.
On Sunday, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that he hoped the repeatedly deferred publication would again be pushed back in order to give Israel more time to settle the diplomatic dispute with Turkey.
Turkey has repeatedly said that relations between the two sides can only be restored if Tel Aviv apologizes for the attack, compensates the families of those killed and the injured, and lifts its deadly blockade on the Gaza Strip.
Israel has reportedly agreed to a payout but is resisting calls to apologize, proposing instead to express regret.
On May 31, 2010, Israeli commandos attacked the six-vessel Gaza Freedom Flotilla in international waters to prevent the convoy from breaching its crippling blockade on the Palestinian territory.
In the assault, nine Turkish nationals, including a teenager with Turkish-US dual citizenship, were killed and dozens were injured.
Turkey said that some of the victims had been shot "execution-style" at point-blank.
Turkish post-mortem examinations also revealed that a total of 30 bullets were found in the bodies of the nine dead activists. One of the activists had been shot four times in the head.
Erdogan's 'Plan B': Downgrading Israel ties
Turkish newspaper reports prime minister considering options if Israel refuses to apologize for 2010 flotilla raid.
Turkish newspaper Hurriyet on Monday reported that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is considering moving to a "Plan B" which will see relations with Israel suffer further by downgrading the level of Turkey's diplomatic staff in Israel.
On Sunday, Erdogan said that he still expects an apology from Jerusalem. "We will wait for the Israelis' decision a certain period. If they don't apologize by this time we shall move to plan b," he said.
According to Hurriyet, "Plan B" means cooling down relations with Israel. One of the most significant steps will be downgrading the level of Turkey's embassy staff in Israel. Ankara recalled its ambassador following last year's flotilla event. It is also possible Turkey will not approve an Israeli ambassador to replace Gaby Levy.
On Sunday, the Turkish newspaper reported that the Palmer report has ruled that IDF soldiers boarded the ship with "the intent to kill.'
According to the report, Israel is considering compensating the families of the nine people killed aboard the ship, and intends to issue a statement regretting the loss of life - regardless of Turkey's demand for an official apology.
Turkish newspaper Hurriyet on Monday reported that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is considering moving to a "Plan B" which will see relations with Israel suffer further by downgrading the level of Turkey's diplomatic staff in Israel.
On Sunday, Erdogan said that he still expects an apology from Jerusalem. "We will wait for the Israelis' decision a certain period. If they don't apologize by this time we shall move to plan b," he said.
According to Hurriyet, "Plan B" means cooling down relations with Israel. One of the most significant steps will be downgrading the level of Turkey's embassy staff in Israel. Ankara recalled its ambassador following last year's flotilla event. It is also possible Turkey will not approve an Israeli ambassador to replace Gaby Levy.
On Sunday, the Turkish newspaper reported that the Palmer report has ruled that IDF soldiers boarded the ship with "the intent to kill.'
According to the report, Israel is considering compensating the families of the nine people killed aboard the ship, and intends to issue a statement regretting the loss of life - regardless of Turkey's demand for an official apology.
24 july 2011
Release of Palmer report postponed
UN report probing raid on first Gaza flotilla deferred in hopes Israel, Turkey reach compromise by new release date.
Jerusalem sources told Ynet Sunday that the Release of the UN's Palmer report, probing the raid on the first Gaza flotilla, has been postponed to mid-august.
The move is said to be in an effort to allow Israel and Turkey more time to reach a compromise as to its phrasing.
The Turkish newspaper Hurriyet said Sunday that the Palmer report on last year's Gaza-bound flotilla is expected to be released this week.
The United Nations inquiry into the deadly events which took place aboard Turkey's Marmara is led by former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer, who is assisted by two deputies – an Israeli one and a Turkish one.
Earlier Sunday, the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet reported that Palmer report has ruled that IDF soldiers boarded the ship with "the intent to kill.'
According to the report, Israel is considering compensating the families of the nine people killed aboard the ship, and intends to issue a statement regretting the loss of life - regardless of Turkey's demand for an official apology.
Jerusalem sources told Ynet Sunday that the Release of the UN's Palmer report, probing the raid on the first Gaza flotilla, has been postponed to mid-august.
The move is said to be in an effort to allow Israel and Turkey more time to reach a compromise as to its phrasing.
The Turkish newspaper Hurriyet said Sunday that the Palmer report on last year's Gaza-bound flotilla is expected to be released this week.
The United Nations inquiry into the deadly events which took place aboard Turkey's Marmara is led by former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer, who is assisted by two deputies – an Israeli one and a Turkish one.
Earlier Sunday, the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet reported that Palmer report has ruled that IDF soldiers boarded the ship with "the intent to kill.'
According to the report, Israel is considering compensating the families of the nine people killed aboard the ship, and intends to issue a statement regretting the loss of life - regardless of Turkey's demand for an official apology.
UN report: Israel boarded the Mavi Marmara with ‘an intention to kill’
UN commission to publish findings on IDF raid on Turkish flotilla vessel, prompting Israel to debate whether to apologize to Turkey, newspaper says.
The Turkish newspaper Hurriyet said Sunday that the Palmer report on last year's Gaza-bound flotilla is expected to be released this week.
According to the newspaper, the UN-appointed panel to investigate the raid on the Mavi Marmara vessel has ruled that IDF soldiers boarded the ship with an intention to kill.
The Turkish daily claimed that this assertion is what prompted the debate within Israel's government on whether the Jewish State should issue an apology to Turkey. The Forum of Eight Ministers was expected to discuss the issue on Sunday.
According to the article, Israel is considering compensating the families of the nine people killed aboard the ship, and intends to issue a statement regretting the loss of life - regardless of Turkey's demand for an official apology.
The newspaper claimed that Israel is worried that such an apology will pave the way for international law suits to be filed against the IDF soldiers.
The newspaper went on to express optimism that Israel and Turkey are to make progress in improving ties when officials from both nations meet in New York on Tuesday. As per the article, Vice Prime Minister Moshe Yaalon is expected to confer with Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu, among other officials. Sources in Jerusalem confirmed that Yaalon will be traveling to New York, but said that they are unaware that any such meeting was scheduled.
"I'm in favor of improving relations but this should not be at the expense of Israel alone," Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said prior to Sunday's cabinet meeting. "It's in the interest of both countries to improve relations and the ball is in Turkey's court. There is no reason for Israel to apologize, there are soldiers who were sent to do their job mid-sea."
Defense Minister Ehud Barak also addressed the report: "I hope we won't have to answer these questions this week and that we have more time to fully examine the matter. It is our business to protect officers, commanders and soldiers from possible overseas lawsuits."
The Turkish newspaper Hurriyet said Sunday that the Palmer report on last year's Gaza-bound flotilla is expected to be released this week.
According to the newspaper, the UN-appointed panel to investigate the raid on the Mavi Marmara vessel has ruled that IDF soldiers boarded the ship with an intention to kill.
The Turkish daily claimed that this assertion is what prompted the debate within Israel's government on whether the Jewish State should issue an apology to Turkey. The Forum of Eight Ministers was expected to discuss the issue on Sunday.
According to the article, Israel is considering compensating the families of the nine people killed aboard the ship, and intends to issue a statement regretting the loss of life - regardless of Turkey's demand for an official apology.
The newspaper claimed that Israel is worried that such an apology will pave the way for international law suits to be filed against the IDF soldiers.
The newspaper went on to express optimism that Israel and Turkey are to make progress in improving ties when officials from both nations meet in New York on Tuesday. As per the article, Vice Prime Minister Moshe Yaalon is expected to confer with Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu, among other officials. Sources in Jerusalem confirmed that Yaalon will be traveling to New York, but said that they are unaware that any such meeting was scheduled.
"I'm in favor of improving relations but this should not be at the expense of Israel alone," Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said prior to Sunday's cabinet meeting. "It's in the interest of both countries to improve relations and the ball is in Turkey's court. There is no reason for Israel to apologize, there are soldiers who were sent to do their job mid-sea."
Defense Minister Ehud Barak also addressed the report: "I hope we won't have to answer these questions this week and that we have more time to fully examine the matter. It is our business to protect officers, commanders and soldiers from possible overseas lawsuits."
Lieberman: No reason to apologize to Turkey
Cabinet ministers set to discuss last year's flotilla raid before UN committee issues Palmer Report.
The forum of eight ministers is scheduled to discuss the Palmer Report by a UN committee investigating last year's flotilla events on Sunday. The report is slated to be issued this week. Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman is against apologizing to Turkey for the deaths of nine activists, which Ankara is demanding in exchange for normalizing bilateral relations.
"I'm in favor of improving relations but this should not be at the expense of Israel alone," he said prior to Sunday's cabinet meeting. "It's in the interest of both countries to improve relations and the ball is in Turkey's court. There is no reason for Israel to apologize, there are soldiers who were sent to do their job mid-sea."
Lieberman claimed the issue will not cause a coalition crisis, even if an apology is offered. "This government has a lot more to do on the Turkish issue, as well as in the housing issue and others. We do not negotiate via the media."
Defense Minister Ehud Barak also addressed the report: "I hope we won't have to answer these questions this week and that we have more time to fully examine the matter. It is our business to protect officers, commanders and soldiers from possible overseas lawsuits."
Though the Palmer committee will only be presenting its findings to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon later this week, reports from earlier this month claimed that its members, international experts and representatives from turkey and Israel, determined that though the IDF used excessive force, the operation itself was legitimate.
The report's release was postponed by three weeks due to Turkey's refusal to accept its findings. An attempt to bridge the gaps between Jerusalem and Ankara in order to lessen the emphasis on support for Israel and criticism of Turkey – proved futile.
Minister Moshe Ya'alon said he did not see any possibility for reconciliation with Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government.
National Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau placed the blame on Turkey. "Turkey should be the one apologizing for being involved in the Marmara provocation and all signs show it is behind the IHH terror organization."
Science and Technology Minister Daniel Hershkowitz also does not believes Israel should apologize. "We did not endorse violent action against the Turks and there is no room for compensation or lawsuits against IDF soldiers."
The forum of eight ministers is scheduled to discuss the Palmer Report by a UN committee investigating last year's flotilla events on Sunday. The report is slated to be issued this week. Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman is against apologizing to Turkey for the deaths of nine activists, which Ankara is demanding in exchange for normalizing bilateral relations.
"I'm in favor of improving relations but this should not be at the expense of Israel alone," he said prior to Sunday's cabinet meeting. "It's in the interest of both countries to improve relations and the ball is in Turkey's court. There is no reason for Israel to apologize, there are soldiers who were sent to do their job mid-sea."
Lieberman claimed the issue will not cause a coalition crisis, even if an apology is offered. "This government has a lot more to do on the Turkish issue, as well as in the housing issue and others. We do not negotiate via the media."
Defense Minister Ehud Barak also addressed the report: "I hope we won't have to answer these questions this week and that we have more time to fully examine the matter. It is our business to protect officers, commanders and soldiers from possible overseas lawsuits."
Though the Palmer committee will only be presenting its findings to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon later this week, reports from earlier this month claimed that its members, international experts and representatives from turkey and Israel, determined that though the IDF used excessive force, the operation itself was legitimate.
The report's release was postponed by three weeks due to Turkey's refusal to accept its findings. An attempt to bridge the gaps between Jerusalem and Ankara in order to lessen the emphasis on support for Israel and criticism of Turkey – proved futile.
Minister Moshe Ya'alon said he did not see any possibility for reconciliation with Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government.
National Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau placed the blame on Turkey. "Turkey should be the one apologizing for being involved in the Marmara provocation and all signs show it is behind the IHH terror organization."
Science and Technology Minister Daniel Hershkowitz also does not believes Israel should apologize. "We did not endorse violent action against the Turks and there is no room for compensation or lawsuits against IDF soldiers."
23 aug 2011
Erdogan: No normalization unless Israel apologizes
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday it was "unthinkable" for Ankara to normalize relations with Israel until it apologized over its bloody raid on a Turkish ship heading for Gaza.
"As long as Israel does not apologize to Turkey, pay compensation to the families of the victims and lift its blockage on the Gaza strip, a normalization of relations is unthinkable," he said at the opening of a meeting of Palestinian ambassadors in the presence of President Mahmoud Abbas.
Erdogan accused Israel of perpetrating a "barbaric massacre" and "shooting in the back" the nine unarmed Turkish activists killed when Israeli commandos stormed a Turkish ferry leading a flotilla which was attempting to break Israeli's naval embargo on Gaza in May 2010.
After the raid, which was carried out in international waters, Turkey recalled its ambassador in Tel Aviv and warned bilateral relations would "never be the same again."
On Thursday Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Yaalon insisted that Israel would not "take responsibility" for the deaths.
"We are not ready to apologize, as apologizing is taking responsibility," he told reporters in Jerusalem.
"We are ready to regret the loss of lives, we are ready to create a kind of humanitarian voluntary fund," he said, explaining that if such a fund were set up by Ankara, Israel would be prepared to pay money into it.
But he said there would be no official apology nor direct compensation offered to the families of those killed or injured.
"A voluntary fund is acceptable, but compensation... means that you are responsible," he said.
"As long as Israel does not apologize to Turkey, pay compensation to the families of the victims and lift its blockage on the Gaza strip, a normalization of relations is unthinkable," he said at the opening of a meeting of Palestinian ambassadors in the presence of President Mahmoud Abbas.
Erdogan accused Israel of perpetrating a "barbaric massacre" and "shooting in the back" the nine unarmed Turkish activists killed when Israeli commandos stormed a Turkish ferry leading a flotilla which was attempting to break Israeli's naval embargo on Gaza in May 2010.
After the raid, which was carried out in international waters, Turkey recalled its ambassador in Tel Aviv and warned bilateral relations would "never be the same again."
On Thursday Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Yaalon insisted that Israel would not "take responsibility" for the deaths.
"We are not ready to apologize, as apologizing is taking responsibility," he told reporters in Jerusalem.
"We are ready to regret the loss of lives, we are ready to create a kind of humanitarian voluntary fund," he said, explaining that if such a fund were set up by Ankara, Israel would be prepared to pay money into it.
But he said there would be no official apology nor direct compensation offered to the families of those killed or injured.
"A voluntary fund is acceptable, but compensation... means that you are responsible," he said.
21 july 2011
Israeli minister rules out flotilla apology to Turkey
Israel will not "take responsibility" for the deaths of nine Turkish nationals by apologizing to Ankara over its botched 2010 raid on a ferry heading for Gaza, a senior cabinet minister said on Thursday.
"We are not ready to apologize, as apologizing is taking responsibility," Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Yaalon told reporters in Jerusalem.
"There is no room in my mind for any kind of apology that means taking responsibility," he said of the pre-dawn raid on a six-vessel flotilla that attempted to sail to Gaza in May 2010 in a bid to break Israel's naval embargo.
Yaalon's comments come after several failed attempts by Israel and Turkey to patch up ties that frayed almost to breaking point after commandos stormed the Turkish-owned Mavi Marmara ferry that was leading the flotilla.
He said Turkish representatives continued to insist that relations could only be restored if Israel apologized for the raid, compensated the families of those killed and the injured, and lifted its blockade on the Gaza Strip.
"We tried very hard to bridge the gap ... (but) as long as they insist on this position I can't see any agreement between the two sides," he said.
"We are ready to regret the loss of lives, we are ready to create a kind of humanitarian voluntary fund," he said, explaining that if such a fund were set up by Ankara, Israel would be prepared to pay money into it.
But he said there would be no official apology nor direct compensation offered to the families of those killed and the injured.
"A voluntary fund is acceptable, but compensation ... means that you are responsible."
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has repeatedly said the Jewish state will not apologize for the raid, although privately officials acknowledge that upgrading relations with Ankara would be desirable.
Media reports suggest there is increasing pressure on both sides for a final agreement that would restore once-strong ties between the two countries.
In an interview with Israel's Haaretz newspaper, a senior adviser to Turkish premier Recep Erdogan reportedly said Ankara was looking for a full restoration of ties and was "sorry about what happened."
"We greatly value our relations with Israel and are not thrilled with their deterioration," Ibrahim Kalin told the newspaper.
"Friends apologize for mistakes. We are sorry about what happened; we didn't intend to sever relations with Israel, which were excellent."
However, Kalin later said Haaretz had misquoted him.
"What we are saying in short is this: there will be no improvement in Turkish-Israeli ties as long as Turkey's well-known demands are not met," Kalin said.
"The improvement of ties depends on meeting Turkey's demands but the Haaretz newspaper has presented this in a different manner. They have carried their own statements as quotes by me," he said.
In a separate article published on its website, Haaretz said Israeli Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein had advised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to apologize to Turkey in a bid to head off lawsuits against the soldiers who raided the Mavi Marmara.
According to the website, Weinstein proposed Israel apologize for operational mistakes and misuse of force, rather than for attacking the flotilla and that in return, Turkey would agree to block any lawsuits against Israeli soldiers.
But Yaalon said such an agreement with Turkey would not prevent activists in other countries from filing similar suits and said he did not believe Ankara was looking to restore ties with Israel.
"The Turkish government initiated this deterioration as part of a new policy to look to the East rather than to the West," he said.
"I'm not sure that even an agreement between us and Turkey is going to change the Turkish policy towards Israel."
AG to Netanyahu: Apologize to Turkey or face indictments for IDF troops
Sources say Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein believes apology would convince Turkey not to file lawsuits against IDF officers who took over the Mavi Marmara in 2010.
Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein has advised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel should apologize for the deadly takeover of the Gaza-bound Mavi Marmara ship last year, in which nine pro-Palestinian Turkish activists were killed, sources in Jerusalem said Thursday.
According to the sources, Weinstein believes the UN investigation into the 2010 flotilla incident might prompt lawsuits against IDF soldiers. Therefore, he recommends reaching an understanding with Turkey, even if that means issuing an apology. The Justice Department declined to comment on these details.
The sources added that Weinstein believes that if Turkey promises not to file lawsuits against IDF soldiers and officers that took part in the Marmara interception, Israel should consider apologizing for operational mistakes and misuse of force. The suggested apology would be a general one, and would not apply to stopping the flotilla or the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Although the UN investigation is expected to find the naval blockade legal, it is likely to determine that the Israeli commando soldiers used excessive force while intercepting the ship. The investigation mentions autopsy reports which claim that the activists killed were shot several times.
The UN report is expected to be published on July 27 in New York. The report's release has been delayed several times due to pressure from the United States, who is worried that the ongoing crisis between Israel and Turkey will harm its interests in the Middle East.
Vice Prime Minister Moshe Ya’alon, who has led negotiations with Turkey over the last few weeks, adamantly opposes any kind of apology to Turkey, a view shared by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. Ya'alon believes that even if Israel apologizes, citizens from Turkey or other countries could still file lawsuits against IDF soldiers and officers.
"We are not ready to apologize, as apologizing is taking responsibility," Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Yaalon told reporters in Jerusalem.
"There is no room in my mind for any kind of apology that means taking responsibility," he said of the pre-dawn raid on a six-vessel flotilla that attempted to sail to Gaza in May 2010 in a bid to break Israel's naval embargo.
Yaalon's comments come after several failed attempts by Israel and Turkey to patch up ties that frayed almost to breaking point after commandos stormed the Turkish-owned Mavi Marmara ferry that was leading the flotilla.
He said Turkish representatives continued to insist that relations could only be restored if Israel apologized for the raid, compensated the families of those killed and the injured, and lifted its blockade on the Gaza Strip.
"We tried very hard to bridge the gap ... (but) as long as they insist on this position I can't see any agreement between the two sides," he said.
"We are ready to regret the loss of lives, we are ready to create a kind of humanitarian voluntary fund," he said, explaining that if such a fund were set up by Ankara, Israel would be prepared to pay money into it.
But he said there would be no official apology nor direct compensation offered to the families of those killed and the injured.
"A voluntary fund is acceptable, but compensation ... means that you are responsible."
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has repeatedly said the Jewish state will not apologize for the raid, although privately officials acknowledge that upgrading relations with Ankara would be desirable.
Media reports suggest there is increasing pressure on both sides for a final agreement that would restore once-strong ties between the two countries.
In an interview with Israel's Haaretz newspaper, a senior adviser to Turkish premier Recep Erdogan reportedly said Ankara was looking for a full restoration of ties and was "sorry about what happened."
"We greatly value our relations with Israel and are not thrilled with their deterioration," Ibrahim Kalin told the newspaper.
"Friends apologize for mistakes. We are sorry about what happened; we didn't intend to sever relations with Israel, which were excellent."
However, Kalin later said Haaretz had misquoted him.
"What we are saying in short is this: there will be no improvement in Turkish-Israeli ties as long as Turkey's well-known demands are not met," Kalin said.
"The improvement of ties depends on meeting Turkey's demands but the Haaretz newspaper has presented this in a different manner. They have carried their own statements as quotes by me," he said.
In a separate article published on its website, Haaretz said Israeli Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein had advised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to apologize to Turkey in a bid to head off lawsuits against the soldiers who raided the Mavi Marmara.
According to the website, Weinstein proposed Israel apologize for operational mistakes and misuse of force, rather than for attacking the flotilla and that in return, Turkey would agree to block any lawsuits against Israeli soldiers.
But Yaalon said such an agreement with Turkey would not prevent activists in other countries from filing similar suits and said he did not believe Ankara was looking to restore ties with Israel.
"The Turkish government initiated this deterioration as part of a new policy to look to the East rather than to the West," he said.
"I'm not sure that even an agreement between us and Turkey is going to change the Turkish policy towards Israel."
AG to Netanyahu: Apologize to Turkey or face indictments for IDF troops
Sources say Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein believes apology would convince Turkey not to file lawsuits against IDF officers who took over the Mavi Marmara in 2010.
Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein has advised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel should apologize for the deadly takeover of the Gaza-bound Mavi Marmara ship last year, in which nine pro-Palestinian Turkish activists were killed, sources in Jerusalem said Thursday.
According to the sources, Weinstein believes the UN investigation into the 2010 flotilla incident might prompt lawsuits against IDF soldiers. Therefore, he recommends reaching an understanding with Turkey, even if that means issuing an apology. The Justice Department declined to comment on these details.
The sources added that Weinstein believes that if Turkey promises not to file lawsuits against IDF soldiers and officers that took part in the Marmara interception, Israel should consider apologizing for operational mistakes and misuse of force. The suggested apology would be a general one, and would not apply to stopping the flotilla or the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Although the UN investigation is expected to find the naval blockade legal, it is likely to determine that the Israeli commando soldiers used excessive force while intercepting the ship. The investigation mentions autopsy reports which claim that the activists killed were shot several times.
The UN report is expected to be published on July 27 in New York. The report's release has been delayed several times due to pressure from the United States, who is worried that the ongoing crisis between Israel and Turkey will harm its interests in the Middle East.
Vice Prime Minister Moshe Ya’alon, who has led negotiations with Turkey over the last few weeks, adamantly opposes any kind of apology to Turkey, a view shared by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. Ya'alon believes that even if Israel apologizes, citizens from Turkey or other countries could still file lawsuits against IDF soldiers and officers.
11 july 2011
Lieberman: Erdogan wants to humiliate Israel and is uninterested in rapprochement
Israeli Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, has said that the Turkish government headed by Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan is completely uninterested in a diplomatic rapprochement between Ankara and Tel Aviv.
In a statement to Radio Israel following the Turkish government's insistence on its demand that Israel apologize for last year's Freedom Flotilla incident as a pre-condition to the normalization of Turkish-Israeli relations, Lieberman said, "It is clear that this person [Erdogan] is not looking for accommodation, peace or normalisation, but wants to humiliate the State of Israel; reduce its international standing, and harm our status in the region,"
Israel has completely refused to apologize for storming the Gaza-bound Turkish ship; the Mavi Marmara last May.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry had approached Ankara with a request that it demonstrates more flexibility toward ending the flotilla crisis through a 'redeeming formula' which aims at improving the level of bilateral relations between the two states.
In a statement to Radio Israel following the Turkish government's insistence on its demand that Israel apologize for last year's Freedom Flotilla incident as a pre-condition to the normalization of Turkish-Israeli relations, Lieberman said, "It is clear that this person [Erdogan] is not looking for accommodation, peace or normalisation, but wants to humiliate the State of Israel; reduce its international standing, and harm our status in the region,"
Israel has completely refused to apologize for storming the Gaza-bound Turkish ship; the Mavi Marmara last May.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry had approached Ankara with a request that it demonstrates more flexibility toward ending the flotilla crisis through a 'redeeming formula' which aims at improving the level of bilateral relations between the two states.
9 july 2011
Turkish PM says apology over flotilla a condition for restoring ties with Israel
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has once again refused to normalize relations with Israel before it formally apologizes for the 2010 Gaza flotilla attack and lifts the siege on the Gaza Strip.
The statement came as the Turkish premier presented the government's new program before the parliament. He asserted that Israel's flotilla attack last year breached international law, and he reinstated demands that Israel compensate the Turks killed and injured on board the flotilla's ships.
PM Erdogan also said that ending the siege on the Gaza Strip would be a fundamental prerequisite for resuming natural relations with Israel.
Erdogan pledged that his government would follow the UN investigations into the flotilla incident.
Israeli war minister Ehud Barak said he was displeased over Erdogan's position on the flotilla, emphasizing Israel's major strategic interest in settling the diplomatic crisis with Turkey.
On the UN report that followed an investigation into the flotilla attack, Barak said the report, to be released soon, would confirm the legitimacy of Israel's siege on Gaza and that Israel acted according to international law when intercepting the Gaza flotilla.
Israel's relations with Turkey have spiraled since Israel's bloody aggression on the Gaza Strip in 2008-9. Relations hit lows after Israel's naval forces attacked the Freedom Flotilla in May 2010 killing nine Turkish activists aboard the Mavi Marmara ship and injuring many.
Israel, Turkey lock horns over flotilla
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak has once again rejected Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's conditions for the normalization of diplomatic relations.
"Israel did not commit any crime,” he said in an interview with Israel's Channel 1 television on Friday night, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported.
He made the remarks after Erdogan said earlier on Friday that Israel must apologize for the killing of nine Turkish pro-Palestinian activists last year.
On May 31, 2010, Israeli commandos attacked the first Freedom Flotilla in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea, killing nine Turkish citizens on board the Turkish-flagged M.V. Mavi Marmara and injuring about 50 other people who were part of the team on the six-ship convoy.
Israeli troops also forced the ships to dock at an Israeli port and detained all those on board.
During a speech to the Turkish parliament, Erdogan also said Tel Aviv should lift its four-year blockade of Gaza and pay compensation to the victims of the flotilla attack.
However, the Israeli defense minister said he expected the UN inquiry to vindicate Israel's actions.
"The Palmer commission will say that Israel acted according to international law. The blockade is legal, stopping the ships is legal, the use of force in these circumstances is justified," Barak said.
On Thursday, an Israeli official said that a UN report on Israel's flotilla attack would be published on July 27.
The statement came as the Turkish premier presented the government's new program before the parliament. He asserted that Israel's flotilla attack last year breached international law, and he reinstated demands that Israel compensate the Turks killed and injured on board the flotilla's ships.
PM Erdogan also said that ending the siege on the Gaza Strip would be a fundamental prerequisite for resuming natural relations with Israel.
Erdogan pledged that his government would follow the UN investigations into the flotilla incident.
Israeli war minister Ehud Barak said he was displeased over Erdogan's position on the flotilla, emphasizing Israel's major strategic interest in settling the diplomatic crisis with Turkey.
On the UN report that followed an investigation into the flotilla attack, Barak said the report, to be released soon, would confirm the legitimacy of Israel's siege on Gaza and that Israel acted according to international law when intercepting the Gaza flotilla.
Israel's relations with Turkey have spiraled since Israel's bloody aggression on the Gaza Strip in 2008-9. Relations hit lows after Israel's naval forces attacked the Freedom Flotilla in May 2010 killing nine Turkish activists aboard the Mavi Marmara ship and injuring many.
Israel, Turkey lock horns over flotilla
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak has once again rejected Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's conditions for the normalization of diplomatic relations.
"Israel did not commit any crime,” he said in an interview with Israel's Channel 1 television on Friday night, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported.
He made the remarks after Erdogan said earlier on Friday that Israel must apologize for the killing of nine Turkish pro-Palestinian activists last year.
On May 31, 2010, Israeli commandos attacked the first Freedom Flotilla in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea, killing nine Turkish citizens on board the Turkish-flagged M.V. Mavi Marmara and injuring about 50 other people who were part of the team on the six-ship convoy.
Israeli troops also forced the ships to dock at an Israeli port and detained all those on board.
During a speech to the Turkish parliament, Erdogan also said Tel Aviv should lift its four-year blockade of Gaza and pay compensation to the victims of the flotilla attack.
However, the Israeli defense minister said he expected the UN inquiry to vindicate Israel's actions.
"The Palmer commission will say that Israel acted according to international law. The blockade is legal, stopping the ships is legal, the use of force in these circumstances is justified," Barak said.
On Thursday, an Israeli official said that a UN report on Israel's flotilla attack would be published on July 27.
8 july 2011
Turkey PM: Israel must still apologize for last year's Gaza flotilla raid
Erdogan says that if Israel wants to normalize ties with Turkey it must also pay compensation to victims of the flotilla raid and lift its blockade of Gaza.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that it was "unthinkable" to normalize ties with Israel unless Israel apologized for the killing of nine pro-Palestinian Turkish activists aboard the Mavi Marmara ship bound for the Gaza Strip last year.
Erdogan also said in the text of a speech to parliament seen by Reuters that two other conditions for the normilization of ties were Israel lifting its blockade of Gaza and Israel paying compensation to the victims of the flotilla raid.
On Thursday, an Israeli official said http://fwd4.me/065l that a UN report on Israel's interception of last year's flotilla would be published on July 27 after delays to enable talks between Israel and Turkey.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, declined to discuss the findings of the committee set up by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and chaired by former New Zealand premier Geoffrey Palmer, saying only they had been finalized.
But Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said earlier that previous drafts of the Palmer report indicated the panel would rule mostly in favor of Israel.
"From what we understand, the report justifies the [Gaza] blockade. It says the blockade is legitimate, that Israel took legitimate steps," he told reporters.
Steinitz said the Palmer report would include "minor" criticism of the interception of the converted cruise ship Mavi Marmara as it tried to run the Gaza blockade.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that it was "unthinkable" to normalize ties with Israel unless Israel apologized for the killing of nine pro-Palestinian Turkish activists aboard the Mavi Marmara ship bound for the Gaza Strip last year.
Erdogan also said in the text of a speech to parliament seen by Reuters that two other conditions for the normilization of ties were Israel lifting its blockade of Gaza and Israel paying compensation to the victims of the flotilla raid.
On Thursday, an Israeli official said http://fwd4.me/065l that a UN report on Israel's interception of last year's flotilla would be published on July 27 after delays to enable talks between Israel and Turkey.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, declined to discuss the findings of the committee set up by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and chaired by former New Zealand premier Geoffrey Palmer, saying only they had been finalized.
But Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said earlier that previous drafts of the Palmer report indicated the panel would rule mostly in favor of Israel.
"From what we understand, the report justifies the [Gaza] blockade. It says the blockade is legitimate, that Israel took legitimate steps," he told reporters.
Steinitz said the Palmer report would include "minor" criticism of the interception of the converted cruise ship Mavi Marmara as it tried to run the Gaza blockade.
7 july 2011
Israel unlikely to condemn Turkey over Palmer report
Coming UN report on first Gaza flotilla contains harsh criticism against Ankara, but Jerusalem may choose not to capitalize on it.
The coming Palmer report, investigating the tragic events of the 2010 Gaza flotilla, is expected to harshly criticize Turkey's handling of the sail and its ties to the IHH, but according to Ynet's source, Jerusalem does not intend to propel the report's conclusions into an international media campaign that would "vindicate" Israel.
The report stands to include indirect criticism against Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government's involvement in the sail, but it is believed Israel will hold back so as not to impede the efforts to stabilize relations with Turkey.
Jerusalem and Ankara are still struggling with finalizing the report, but since Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Minister for Home Front Defense Matan Vilnai are pushing to normalize relations with Turkey, Israel will be in no hurry to capitalize on the report.
Turkey's objections to the second flotilla is also one of the reasons Israel prefers not to launch and international media campaign against Ankara.
While the Palmer report contains harsh criticism against both states, it insists Israel's maritime blockade on Gaza is legal.
Flotilla report delayed at Turkey's behest
After Palmer report finds Gaza blockade legal, Turkey requests delay for talks with Israel.
Though an inquiry committee investigating the 2010 flotilla has already drawn conclusions, the UN has agreed to postpone its due date for the report until Turkey and Israel come to an agreement on its content, Israeli officials say.
The request to delay the report came from Turkey. Its findings, some of which have already been published, indicate that Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip is legal as well as its raid of the Mavi Marmara.
A UN spokesman said Thursday that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will allow the sides until June 27 to file the Palmer report.
On Thursday morning the Palmer commission, made up of international experts as well as representatives from Turkey and Israel, convened in order to accept from each side its responses to the findings. The Turks then requested a delay for additional talks with Israel, which Ban approved.
Israeli representative Joseph Ciechanover then met with his Turkish counterpart in New York in order to attempt to come to an agreement.
The UN has refused so far to comment on what it plans to do with the report's findings, but Ban has stated in the past that he appointed the commission in order to help Israel and Turkey come to an understanding about the flotilla raid, which killed nine Turks, and not to point fingers.
The commission found that Israel acted too soon in its raid of the Marmara, but that its actions were legal as well as the naval blockade on Gaza. It also heaps criticism on Turkey, finding ties between the state and the IHH as well as direct official involvement in the flotilla.
However sources say Israel will not take advantage of the findings to blame Turkey for the incident, but rather continue its efforts at improving relations with the state despite its insistence that Israel apologize for the raid and compensate the victims.
Official slams UN report supporting Israel on flotilla raid
A UN rapporteur slammed a highly anticipated UN report on Thursday which is set to back a 2010 Israeli commando raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla which left nine people dead.
"The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Prof. Olivier De Schutter, has received a draft of this report and he firmly opposes its conclusions," De Schutter's office said in a statement.
He was preparing "a statement where he denounces the conclusions" of the report by a UN commission which the UN chief is expected to release on Friday, it said, adding such a move would be "exceptional" within the UN.
"Tomorrow, the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon will release a statement supporting the legality of the Israeli intervention against the 2010 'Gaza Freedom Flotilla,'" the statement said.
"According to Olivier De Schutter, the blockade and the Israeli intervention clearly violate international law and the human right to food," it added.
Last year's bloody May 31 showdown when Israeli commandos raided a six-ship pro-Palestinian flotilla leaving nine Turkish activists dead triggered global outrage, amid accusations that Israel had been too heavy-handed.
A UN Human Rights Council report released in September said there was "clear evidence to support prosecutions" of crimes including "willful killing; torture or inhuman treatment" against Israel over the raid.
Turkey has demanded an Israeli apology for the deaths, but Israel has refused so far to go further than to express its regret.
Israel-Turkey talks meant to repair strained ties have collapsed, an Israeli official said on Thursday after the two sides failed to reach a compromise.
The UN report had been expected to be released Thursday, the Israeli official said, but publication was delayed, ostensibly because Ban is traveling in Europe, but in reality to give Israel and Turkey time to reach a deal.
No further talks were scheduled however, the official said.
Israel's Haaretz newspaper said the report lists faults by both sides in their handling of the issue.
The Turkish ferry Mavi Marmara was leading a flotilla of activists seeking to reach the coastal Palestinian territory in defiance of Israeli orders to turn back, when Israeli marines stormed it, killing nine Turkish citizens.
The Israeli official said the UN commission of inquiry, chaired by former New Zealand premier Brian Palmer, found that the blockade, which Israel says is essential to stop arms reaching the strip's militant Islamic Hamas rulers, was legal.
Turkey has argued that it was not.
The news of the report's release came as Israel battened down the hatches at its main airport awaiting hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters after a new flotilla bid to ship aid to the Gaza Strip was scuttled.
Organizers of the 10-ship aid flotilla said the lone boat to sneak out of a Greek port was caught Thursday by the coast guard in Crete.
In a new move though, 600 or so activists were jetting in by air planning to spend a week visiting Palestinian families, with organizers saying they have "totally peaceful intentions."
But Israeli authorities appeared to be gearing up for a confrontation, with hundreds of police on standby around the airport.
Israel, Turkey refuse UN flotilla report
A UN-sponsored report accused Israel of using force prematurely and causing "unacceptable" deaths in its assault of a Gaza-bound ship that killed nine Turks over a year ago, a Turkish source said Thursday.
Israel and Turkey failed to reach agreement, refusing to sign the report about the Israeli raid on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara in May last year, which was due to be handed to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon later Thursday, the source told AFP on condition of anonymity.
"Non-violent options should have been used in the first instance," the Turkish source quoted the report as saying.
The dead and wounded resulting from the raid were "unacceptable," the report added.
The Mavi Marmara was leading a flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory, subject to an Israeli-imposed blockade, when an intervention by Israeli security forces in international waters ended in bloodshed.
Nine Turkish passengers were killed in the assault on the ship that had been chartered by a Turkish group.
Following the May 31 raid, Turkey withdrew its ambassador in Tel Aviv, vowing that bilateral relations "would never be the same."
Israel refused to sign the report after a commission of inquiry concluded that its forces had acted in an "excessive" manner by swooping on the Mavi Marmara a long way from the Gaza Strip and without giving a final warning to the vessel.
The source said Turkey's refusal to sign off on the report stemmed from the fact that it did not say Israel's blockade of Gaza was illegal.
Over the past year, Ankara has repeatedly said it was demanding apologies and compensation from Israel for the victims' families.
Still, there have been signs in recent weeks that the two countries were trying to overcome their differences.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel and Turkey were looking to heal the breach in relations that followed the flotilla incident.
"We are seeking ways of improving our current relations," Netanyahu told journalists in Bucharest on Wednesday.
Several attempts to restore ties between the former close allies have led nowhere, but Israel was encouraged after the owners of the Turkish ferry said it would not be participating in a second attempt to reach Gaza this month.
"We are trying to make concrete steps," Netanyahu said.
"Apart from the fact that Turkey did not participate in the (latest) flotilla, there are other signs allowing us to talk of an improvement in our relations."
Key to any reconciliation is Turkey's demand that Israel apologize for its actions.
But Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman reiterated his opposition to such a step in remarks to the parliamentary Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
"We have no interest in a confrontation with Turkey and we are in favor of renewing our relations with Turkey; we have no territorial dispute with Turkey and we are ready to reach a compromise," he said.
"We are not prepared to be dictated to and we are not prepared to be humiliated or to abandon our troops.
"An apology is not a compromise -- in my view, it is humiliation and abandonment of our soldiers," he continued.
On Tuesday, Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said contacts with Turkey had been intensified in order to solve the crisis and "turn the page" on previous disagreements.
The coming Palmer report, investigating the tragic events of the 2010 Gaza flotilla, is expected to harshly criticize Turkey's handling of the sail and its ties to the IHH, but according to Ynet's source, Jerusalem does not intend to propel the report's conclusions into an international media campaign that would "vindicate" Israel.
The report stands to include indirect criticism against Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government's involvement in the sail, but it is believed Israel will hold back so as not to impede the efforts to stabilize relations with Turkey.
Jerusalem and Ankara are still struggling with finalizing the report, but since Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Minister for Home Front Defense Matan Vilnai are pushing to normalize relations with Turkey, Israel will be in no hurry to capitalize on the report.
Turkey's objections to the second flotilla is also one of the reasons Israel prefers not to launch and international media campaign against Ankara.
While the Palmer report contains harsh criticism against both states, it insists Israel's maritime blockade on Gaza is legal.
Flotilla report delayed at Turkey's behest
After Palmer report finds Gaza blockade legal, Turkey requests delay for talks with Israel.
Though an inquiry committee investigating the 2010 flotilla has already drawn conclusions, the UN has agreed to postpone its due date for the report until Turkey and Israel come to an agreement on its content, Israeli officials say.
The request to delay the report came from Turkey. Its findings, some of which have already been published, indicate that Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip is legal as well as its raid of the Mavi Marmara.
A UN spokesman said Thursday that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will allow the sides until June 27 to file the Palmer report.
On Thursday morning the Palmer commission, made up of international experts as well as representatives from Turkey and Israel, convened in order to accept from each side its responses to the findings. The Turks then requested a delay for additional talks with Israel, which Ban approved.
Israeli representative Joseph Ciechanover then met with his Turkish counterpart in New York in order to attempt to come to an agreement.
The UN has refused so far to comment on what it plans to do with the report's findings, but Ban has stated in the past that he appointed the commission in order to help Israel and Turkey come to an understanding about the flotilla raid, which killed nine Turks, and not to point fingers.
The commission found that Israel acted too soon in its raid of the Marmara, but that its actions were legal as well as the naval blockade on Gaza. It also heaps criticism on Turkey, finding ties between the state and the IHH as well as direct official involvement in the flotilla.
However sources say Israel will not take advantage of the findings to blame Turkey for the incident, but rather continue its efforts at improving relations with the state despite its insistence that Israel apologize for the raid and compensate the victims.
Official slams UN report supporting Israel on flotilla raid
A UN rapporteur slammed a highly anticipated UN report on Thursday which is set to back a 2010 Israeli commando raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla which left nine people dead.
"The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Prof. Olivier De Schutter, has received a draft of this report and he firmly opposes its conclusions," De Schutter's office said in a statement.
He was preparing "a statement where he denounces the conclusions" of the report by a UN commission which the UN chief is expected to release on Friday, it said, adding such a move would be "exceptional" within the UN.
"Tomorrow, the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon will release a statement supporting the legality of the Israeli intervention against the 2010 'Gaza Freedom Flotilla,'" the statement said.
"According to Olivier De Schutter, the blockade and the Israeli intervention clearly violate international law and the human right to food," it added.
Last year's bloody May 31 showdown when Israeli commandos raided a six-ship pro-Palestinian flotilla leaving nine Turkish activists dead triggered global outrage, amid accusations that Israel had been too heavy-handed.
A UN Human Rights Council report released in September said there was "clear evidence to support prosecutions" of crimes including "willful killing; torture or inhuman treatment" against Israel over the raid.
Turkey has demanded an Israeli apology for the deaths, but Israel has refused so far to go further than to express its regret.
Israel-Turkey talks meant to repair strained ties have collapsed, an Israeli official said on Thursday after the two sides failed to reach a compromise.
The UN report had been expected to be released Thursday, the Israeli official said, but publication was delayed, ostensibly because Ban is traveling in Europe, but in reality to give Israel and Turkey time to reach a deal.
No further talks were scheduled however, the official said.
Israel's Haaretz newspaper said the report lists faults by both sides in their handling of the issue.
The Turkish ferry Mavi Marmara was leading a flotilla of activists seeking to reach the coastal Palestinian territory in defiance of Israeli orders to turn back, when Israeli marines stormed it, killing nine Turkish citizens.
The Israeli official said the UN commission of inquiry, chaired by former New Zealand premier Brian Palmer, found that the blockade, which Israel says is essential to stop arms reaching the strip's militant Islamic Hamas rulers, was legal.
Turkey has argued that it was not.
The news of the report's release came as Israel battened down the hatches at its main airport awaiting hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters after a new flotilla bid to ship aid to the Gaza Strip was scuttled.
Organizers of the 10-ship aid flotilla said the lone boat to sneak out of a Greek port was caught Thursday by the coast guard in Crete.
In a new move though, 600 or so activists were jetting in by air planning to spend a week visiting Palestinian families, with organizers saying they have "totally peaceful intentions."
But Israeli authorities appeared to be gearing up for a confrontation, with hundreds of police on standby around the airport.
Israel, Turkey refuse UN flotilla report
A UN-sponsored report accused Israel of using force prematurely and causing "unacceptable" deaths in its assault of a Gaza-bound ship that killed nine Turks over a year ago, a Turkish source said Thursday.
Israel and Turkey failed to reach agreement, refusing to sign the report about the Israeli raid on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara in May last year, which was due to be handed to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon later Thursday, the source told AFP on condition of anonymity.
"Non-violent options should have been used in the first instance," the Turkish source quoted the report as saying.
The dead and wounded resulting from the raid were "unacceptable," the report added.
The Mavi Marmara was leading a flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory, subject to an Israeli-imposed blockade, when an intervention by Israeli security forces in international waters ended in bloodshed.
Nine Turkish passengers were killed in the assault on the ship that had been chartered by a Turkish group.
Following the May 31 raid, Turkey withdrew its ambassador in Tel Aviv, vowing that bilateral relations "would never be the same."
Israel refused to sign the report after a commission of inquiry concluded that its forces had acted in an "excessive" manner by swooping on the Mavi Marmara a long way from the Gaza Strip and without giving a final warning to the vessel.
The source said Turkey's refusal to sign off on the report stemmed from the fact that it did not say Israel's blockade of Gaza was illegal.
Over the past year, Ankara has repeatedly said it was demanding apologies and compensation from Israel for the victims' families.
Still, there have been signs in recent weeks that the two countries were trying to overcome their differences.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel and Turkey were looking to heal the breach in relations that followed the flotilla incident.
"We are seeking ways of improving our current relations," Netanyahu told journalists in Bucharest on Wednesday.
Several attempts to restore ties between the former close allies have led nowhere, but Israel was encouraged after the owners of the Turkish ferry said it would not be participating in a second attempt to reach Gaza this month.
"We are trying to make concrete steps," Netanyahu said.
"Apart from the fact that Turkey did not participate in the (latest) flotilla, there are other signs allowing us to talk of an improvement in our relations."
Key to any reconciliation is Turkey's demand that Israel apologize for its actions.
But Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman reiterated his opposition to such a step in remarks to the parliamentary Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
"We have no interest in a confrontation with Turkey and we are in favor of renewing our relations with Turkey; we have no territorial dispute with Turkey and we are ready to reach a compromise," he said.
"We are not prepared to be dictated to and we are not prepared to be humiliated or to abandon our troops.
"An apology is not a compromise -- in my view, it is humiliation and abandonment of our soldiers," he continued.
On Tuesday, Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said contacts with Turkey had been intensified in order to solve the crisis and "turn the page" on previous disagreements.
|
|
Information ministry “welcomes” Israel in therapy video
Yesterday we covered here a masterpiece of self-defeating propaganda showing “Israel” as a distressed and paranoid young woman suspicious of people trying to help her and having flashbacks to edited and censored videos of the IDF raid on the marmara. While the initial suspicion was that this was a trailer for Ami Kaufman’s Izzie series, sources with knowledge of the actress’s engagement confirmed to 972 she was recruited to do a Hasbara video for a government project. Just for the morning exercise of your cringe muscles, here it is again: The actress, Aimee Neistat, would not confirm, deny or disclose the identity of her employers. We approached the Information Ministry itself for comment, and this is what we got: |
“The Information and Diaspora Ministry considers the Internet as a primary Hasbara arena, and welcomes all those individuals and organisations working independently [Heb: be'ofen atzmai, in an independent manner - D.R.] to re the truth behind the provocation of the flotilla organisers.”
I wrote back, asking if they “unequivocally deny any involvement of the ministry in the production of the clip.” The reply I got back was:
“What I sent you is the official comment. Don’t add or redact.”
Alrighty then.
On a personal note, I spent considerable time last night censoring and erasing comments attacking Neistat, many using blatantly sexist language. I would like to stress that this is completely out of place. Even if one disagrees with Neistat’s choice of roles, this is no reason to bully or threaten her; and sexism is out of place on this site in any context, but it’s jarring in a fresh way to see arguments for Palestinian rights being made through violent, misogynist language. The issue here is the policy of the government in Gaza and their surreal antics – not the actors.
I wrote back, asking if they “unequivocally deny any involvement of the ministry in the production of the clip.” The reply I got back was:
“What I sent you is the official comment. Don’t add or redact.”
Alrighty then.
On a personal note, I spent considerable time last night censoring and erasing comments attacking Neistat, many using blatantly sexist language. I would like to stress that this is completely out of place. Even if one disagrees with Neistat’s choice of roles, this is no reason to bully or threaten her; and sexism is out of place on this site in any context, but it’s jarring in a fresh way to see arguments for Palestinian rights being made through violent, misogynist language. The issue here is the policy of the government in Gaza and their surreal antics – not the actors.
Jerusalem not hopeful over Palmer report obstacles
Minister Moshe Ya'alon who is in New York is continuing his contacts with the US and Turkey is efforts to reach an understanding over the problematic articles in the Palmer report on last year's flotilla to Gaza.
Yet Jerusalem is not holding its breath in light of Ankara's insistence to receive an apology from Jerusalem over the deaths of the nine activists killed on the Mavi Marmara last year.
Yet Jerusalem is not holding its breath in light of Ankara's insistence to receive an apology from Jerusalem over the deaths of the nine activists killed on the Mavi Marmara last year.
5 july 2011
Ya'alon to discuss flotilla report with Turks
Minister heads to New York to meet Turkish, US officials ahead of Palmer report's publication.
Minister Moshe Ya'alon will meet Turkish and American representatives in New York this week to discuss the Palmer report on the 2010 flotilla raid which will be published Thursday.
The parties will try to reach an understanding whereby Israel will not be required to apologize to Turkey and in exchange will not highlight aspects reflecting poorly on Ankara. They will also consider the possibility of setting up a Turkish fund for victims of the Marmara raid which Israel will finance.
State officials said that should the parties reach understandings Israel will help Turkey render the report irrelevant, particularly by avoiding addressing aspects of the report which touch upon on Ankara's ties with the IHH and involvement in the flotilla.
It was also suggested that Israel is interested in improving its relations with Turkey and wishes to arrange a meeting with high-ranking officials, apparently referring to Defense Minister Ehud Barak. Barak stated he seeks reconciliation with Ankara.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has tasked Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch with handling the planned pro-Palestinian fly-in to the Ben Gurion Airport.
"The decision was made for the purpose of coordinating the activity of government offices and professional elements which enforce law and order."
Minister Moshe Ya'alon will meet Turkish and American representatives in New York this week to discuss the Palmer report on the 2010 flotilla raid which will be published Thursday.
The parties will try to reach an understanding whereby Israel will not be required to apologize to Turkey and in exchange will not highlight aspects reflecting poorly on Ankara. They will also consider the possibility of setting up a Turkish fund for victims of the Marmara raid which Israel will finance.
State officials said that should the parties reach understandings Israel will help Turkey render the report irrelevant, particularly by avoiding addressing aspects of the report which touch upon on Ankara's ties with the IHH and involvement in the flotilla.
It was also suggested that Israel is interested in improving its relations with Turkey and wishes to arrange a meeting with high-ranking officials, apparently referring to Defense Minister Ehud Barak. Barak stated he seeks reconciliation with Ankara.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has tasked Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch with handling the planned pro-Palestinian fly-in to the Ben Gurion Airport.
"The decision was made for the purpose of coordinating the activity of government offices and professional elements which enforce law and order."
4 july 2011
Barak on Turkey: Let's put past behind us
Defense minister says improving ties with Turkey is Israel's priority, slams Palestinian UN bid.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak hinted Monday that reconciliation with Turkey is drawing near, saying that Israel is very interested in "putting the past behind us."
"Turkey is a very important nation, one of four key nations in the region, besides Israel, of course," Barak said during an Independence Faction meeting at the Knesset. "As our ties with the Saudis are strained, in fact we have no ties, our relationship with Iran is hostile, we have peaceful ties with Egypt but it is undergoing difficult changes – it is our priority to iron out the difficulties with Turkey."
Addressing Turkish Prime Minster Recep Erdogan's objections to Israel's blockade on the Gaza Strip, Barak noted that "Israel implemented the siege; we did something that we had no other choice but doing. What happened, happened. We are interested in putting it behind us, and moving forward. Turkey remains an important nation in the Middle East."
'PA determined to go to UN'
Barak also addressed during Monday's meeting the Palestinians intention to declare statehood in the fall.
"There are growing signs that the Palestinians are determined to turn to the UN General Assembly to gain recognition for a Palestinian state," he said. "This issue creates a complicated reality for us ahead of September.
"We are committed to the effort to convince the large nations of the world, primarily European nations, that the reason for the lack of progress in the negotiations is this Palestinian behavior," he said.
The defense minister also spoke about the charges pressed against Hezbollah members in connection with the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.
"The issue is shaking up Lebanon," Barak said. "It is unclear whether the deeper currents behind the investigation will lead across the border, into Syria, into the government circles there.
"It really shows us who we're dealing with, who are the neighbors that we live amongst," he said.
Report: Turkey urged to use Hamas ties
Turkish newspaper report suggests US senators asked Erdogan to play role in efforts to solve Israeli-Palestinian conflict, bring Hamas to negotiating table.
A group of US senators told Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan over the weekend that only Ankara can convince Hamas to join talks between Israel and the Palestinians, Turkish newspaper Hurriyet reported.
According to the report, Erdogan told John McCain, Joe Lieberman and Lindsay Graham that Turkey will try to persuade Hamas to return to the negotiating table if the group is given an incentive.
The Turkish PM added that he may extend his upcoming visit to Egypt to include a visit to the Palestinian Authority. Previous Turkish reports suggest Erdogan plans to enter Gaza via the Rafah crossing.
The US senators discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with Erdogan in a meeting held over the weekend.
The Turkish premier claimed that a peace agreement will be virtually impossible to achieve without Hamas being included in talks. The US delegation responded that Turkey may be the only country to bring Hamas to the negotiating table.
After the meeting Senator Graham expressed hope that Turkey will play a role in solving the conflict and added that Erdogan is the "most impressive speaker in the region."
Erdogan met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ankara 10 days ago, and promised to work to garner support for the recognition of a Palestinian state.
He declared that his country is willing to support efforts to form a Palestinian unity government.
On Sunday, Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Turkey is playing a role in efforts to secure a deal between Israel and Hamas which will see the return of captive soldier Gilad Shalit.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak hinted Monday that reconciliation with Turkey is drawing near, saying that Israel is very interested in "putting the past behind us."
"Turkey is a very important nation, one of four key nations in the region, besides Israel, of course," Barak said during an Independence Faction meeting at the Knesset. "As our ties with the Saudis are strained, in fact we have no ties, our relationship with Iran is hostile, we have peaceful ties with Egypt but it is undergoing difficult changes – it is our priority to iron out the difficulties with Turkey."
Addressing Turkish Prime Minster Recep Erdogan's objections to Israel's blockade on the Gaza Strip, Barak noted that "Israel implemented the siege; we did something that we had no other choice but doing. What happened, happened. We are interested in putting it behind us, and moving forward. Turkey remains an important nation in the Middle East."
'PA determined to go to UN'
Barak also addressed during Monday's meeting the Palestinians intention to declare statehood in the fall.
"There are growing signs that the Palestinians are determined to turn to the UN General Assembly to gain recognition for a Palestinian state," he said. "This issue creates a complicated reality for us ahead of September.
"We are committed to the effort to convince the large nations of the world, primarily European nations, that the reason for the lack of progress in the negotiations is this Palestinian behavior," he said.
The defense minister also spoke about the charges pressed against Hezbollah members in connection with the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.
"The issue is shaking up Lebanon," Barak said. "It is unclear whether the deeper currents behind the investigation will lead across the border, into Syria, into the government circles there.
"It really shows us who we're dealing with, who are the neighbors that we live amongst," he said.
Report: Turkey urged to use Hamas ties
Turkish newspaper report suggests US senators asked Erdogan to play role in efforts to solve Israeli-Palestinian conflict, bring Hamas to negotiating table.
A group of US senators told Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan over the weekend that only Ankara can convince Hamas to join talks between Israel and the Palestinians, Turkish newspaper Hurriyet reported.
According to the report, Erdogan told John McCain, Joe Lieberman and Lindsay Graham that Turkey will try to persuade Hamas to return to the negotiating table if the group is given an incentive.
The Turkish PM added that he may extend his upcoming visit to Egypt to include a visit to the Palestinian Authority. Previous Turkish reports suggest Erdogan plans to enter Gaza via the Rafah crossing.
The US senators discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with Erdogan in a meeting held over the weekend.
The Turkish premier claimed that a peace agreement will be virtually impossible to achieve without Hamas being included in talks. The US delegation responded that Turkey may be the only country to bring Hamas to the negotiating table.
After the meeting Senator Graham expressed hope that Turkey will play a role in solving the conflict and added that Erdogan is the "most impressive speaker in the region."
Erdogan met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ankara 10 days ago, and promised to work to garner support for the recognition of a Palestinian state.
He declared that his country is willing to support efforts to form a Palestinian unity government.
On Sunday, Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Turkey is playing a role in efforts to secure a deal between Israel and Hamas which will see the return of captive soldier Gilad Shalit.
2 july 2011
Israel, Turkey to mollify UN flotilla report?
Amid attempts to launch next Gaza flotilla, officials in Jerusalem, Ankara try to iron out differences, soften conclusions of Palmer committee on previous sail.
Israel and Turkey are holding secret talks in an effort to soften the conclusions of the Palmer Report, issued by a United Nations panel appointed to probe the events of the May 2010 Gaza-bound flotilla.
According to information obtained by Ynet, sources in Washington claimed that Israel's representative to the UN inquiry committee Yosef Ciechanover, his Turkish counterpart and other officials were crisscrossing between Jerusalem and Ankara in an attempt to use the report's conclusions to improve relations between the countries.
The sources also noted that the American administration was applying pressure on both sides to end the prolonged feud, and therefore postponed the publication of the committee's final report, which was headed by former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer and former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe.
According to the sources, if Israel and Turkey reach mutual understandings, the United Nations may decide to moderate the reports' conclusions and refrain from assigning direct blame on one of the sides.
Recently, US President Barack Obama held two phone conversations with Turkish Prime Minster Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke with her Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu in an effort to make progress between the sides.
Washington regards Ankara as a main strategic ally in the new Middle East, especially following the recent uprisings in the region and Syria's violent suppression of protesters.
On Monday, Turkish paper Hurriyet reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to a Turkish demand to issue an apology for the killing of nine activists onboard he Mavi Marmara, but rescinded his decision three times due to internal pressure.
The Prime Minister's Office denied the report, calling it "untrue."
Israel and Turkey are holding secret talks in an effort to soften the conclusions of the Palmer Report, issued by a United Nations panel appointed to probe the events of the May 2010 Gaza-bound flotilla.
According to information obtained by Ynet, sources in Washington claimed that Israel's representative to the UN inquiry committee Yosef Ciechanover, his Turkish counterpart and other officials were crisscrossing between Jerusalem and Ankara in an attempt to use the report's conclusions to improve relations between the countries.
The sources also noted that the American administration was applying pressure on both sides to end the prolonged feud, and therefore postponed the publication of the committee's final report, which was headed by former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer and former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe.
According to the sources, if Israel and Turkey reach mutual understandings, the United Nations may decide to moderate the reports' conclusions and refrain from assigning direct blame on one of the sides.
Recently, US President Barack Obama held two phone conversations with Turkish Prime Minster Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke with her Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu in an effort to make progress between the sides.
Washington regards Ankara as a main strategic ally in the new Middle East, especially following the recent uprisings in the region and Syria's violent suppression of protesters.
On Monday, Turkish paper Hurriyet reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to a Turkish demand to issue an apology for the killing of nine activists onboard he Mavi Marmara, but rescinded his decision three times due to internal pressure.
The Prime Minister's Office denied the report, calling it "untrue."
