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Israel and the US have blackmailed the UN to whitewash its recent report on Israel's 2010 deadly attack on a Gaza-bound flotilla, a former US Senate candidate told Press TV.
“I think it is very clear that Israel and the US are involved in the blackmail of many people involved in the UN to come out with this sort of whitewash,” said former American Senatorial candidate Mark Dankof on Saturday, referring to the UN report. The recently leaked UN report said that Israel had used "excessive" force in its raid on the Gaza-bound aid flotilla in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The probe, also, described Israel's now-four-year-old all-out blockade on the Gaza Strip as legal. “It seems to me that whether you are looking at the activities of [the] people of the central banking community that were clearly pressuring [United] Nations' states, to go |
along with the whitewash of Israel, or you are talking about the situation where the US is using its direct influence upon these UN member states, through Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is clearly a representative of the Israeli lobby, for all practical intensive purposes, this is why we see what we see,” Dankof pointed out.
On May 31, 2010, Israeli military forces waged a deadly assault on a six-ship aid flotilla while it was in international waters en route to the besieged Gaza Strip.
Nine Turkish nationals, including a Turkish-American teenager, were slain and more than 40 others were injured onboard the vessel Mavi Marmara, with the incident leading to a major diplomatic strain in the bilateral ties between Ankara and Tel Aviv.
Turkey has been demanding Israel to make a formal apology for the action, pay compensation to the families of the victims, and lift the Gaza siege in order for the strained relations to be normalized between the two countries.
On Saturday, Turkey suspended all its military ties with Israel and expelled Israel's envoy from Ankara over Tel Aviv's refusal to apologize for the aggressive act.
On May 31, 2010, Israeli military forces waged a deadly assault on a six-ship aid flotilla while it was in international waters en route to the besieged Gaza Strip.
Nine Turkish nationals, including a Turkish-American teenager, were slain and more than 40 others were injured onboard the vessel Mavi Marmara, with the incident leading to a major diplomatic strain in the bilateral ties between Ankara and Tel Aviv.
Turkey has been demanding Israel to make a formal apology for the action, pay compensation to the families of the victims, and lift the Gaza siege in order for the strained relations to be normalized between the two countries.
On Saturday, Turkey suspended all its military ties with Israel and expelled Israel's envoy from Ankara over Tel Aviv's refusal to apologize for the aggressive act.
OIC censures UN report on flotilla attack
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has condemned the UN report on Israel's deadly attack on the Gaza-bound aid flotilla, Mavi Marmara, in 2010.
OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said in a statement on Sunday that the organization “cannot accept any report that would whitewash Israel's attack on the humanitarian flotilla and condone Israel's illegal blockade against the Palestinian civilians,” AFP reported.
“The UN Panel of Inquiry's Report failed to reflect an objective and unbiased position,” Ihsanoglu added.
A recent UN report by former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer concluded that Israel's naval blockade of Gaza was a “legitimate security measure.” The report blamed Israeli troops for using excessive force after boarding the Freedom Flotilla.
The Israeli military attacked the Freedom Flotilla in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea on May 31, 2010, killing nine Turkish nationals aboard the Turkish-flagged MV Mavi Marmara and injuring about 50 other activists that were part of the team on the six-ship convoy.
Ihsanoglu also expressed his support for Turkey's recently declared plans to take Israel to the International Criminal Court at The Hague over the deadly incident.
The world's largest Muslim body also demanded another independent inquiry into the 2010 attack, calling on the international community to exert “as much pressure as possible” on Israel to end its blockade on the Gaza Strip.
Turkey expelled Israel's ambassador and suspended all military agreements with Tel Aviv on Friday over its refusal to apologize for the deadly attack.
OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said in a statement on Sunday that the organization “cannot accept any report that would whitewash Israel's attack on the humanitarian flotilla and condone Israel's illegal blockade against the Palestinian civilians,” AFP reported.
“The UN Panel of Inquiry's Report failed to reflect an objective and unbiased position,” Ihsanoglu added.
A recent UN report by former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer concluded that Israel's naval blockade of Gaza was a “legitimate security measure.” The report blamed Israeli troops for using excessive force after boarding the Freedom Flotilla.
The Israeli military attacked the Freedom Flotilla in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea on May 31, 2010, killing nine Turkish nationals aboard the Turkish-flagged MV Mavi Marmara and injuring about 50 other activists that were part of the team on the six-ship convoy.
Ihsanoglu also expressed his support for Turkey's recently declared plans to take Israel to the International Criminal Court at The Hague over the deadly incident.
The world's largest Muslim body also demanded another independent inquiry into the 2010 attack, calling on the international community to exert “as much pressure as possible” on Israel to end its blockade on the Gaza Strip.
Turkey expelled Israel's ambassador and suspended all military agreements with Tel Aviv on Friday over its refusal to apologize for the deadly attack.
Radwan: Palmer report 'biased and illegitimate'
Senior Hamas leader Ismail Radwan said Sunday that a UN report on Israel's deadly raid of a Gaza-bound aid boat was illegitimate and biased to Israel.
The report, released Friday, was written by a panel headed by former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer. It found that Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip was legal, but that Israel used "excessive and unreasonable force" when its commandos raided the ship and killed nine Turkish civilians on board.
Speaking at a march to protest the report in Gaza City, Radwan said Palmer's findings contradicted other UN reports which considered Israel's blockade a war crime.
He called on the International Courts of Justice to bring justice to Palestinians.
Turkey said Saturday that it would apply next week for an investigation by the International Court of Justice into the legality of Israel's naval blockade of Gaza.
Despite Palmer's findings that Israeli soldiers used excessive force during the May 2010 flotilla raid, Tel Aviv refused to apologize for the killing of nine Turks and on Friday Ankara expelled Israel's ambassador and froze military agreements with Israel.
Aside from demanding an apology, and compensation for families, Turkey also insists Israel ends the blockade of Palestinians living in Gaza.
Radwan praised Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and thanked the Turkish people for supporting Palestinians.
He also urged activists to send more aid convoys to the Gaza Strip.
The report, released Friday, was written by a panel headed by former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer. It found that Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip was legal, but that Israel used "excessive and unreasonable force" when its commandos raided the ship and killed nine Turkish civilians on board.
Speaking at a march to protest the report in Gaza City, Radwan said Palmer's findings contradicted other UN reports which considered Israel's blockade a war crime.
He called on the International Courts of Justice to bring justice to Palestinians.
Turkey said Saturday that it would apply next week for an investigation by the International Court of Justice into the legality of Israel's naval blockade of Gaza.
Despite Palmer's findings that Israeli soldiers used excessive force during the May 2010 flotilla raid, Tel Aviv refused to apologize for the killing of nine Turks and on Friday Ankara expelled Israel's ambassador and froze military agreements with Israel.
Aside from demanding an apology, and compensation for families, Turkey also insists Israel ends the blockade of Palestinians living in Gaza.
Radwan praised Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and thanked the Turkish people for supporting Palestinians.
He also urged activists to send more aid convoys to the Gaza Strip.
Islamic Jihad welcomes Turkish punitive steps against Israel
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement hailed the Turkish government for taking punitive measures against the Israeli occupation state in response to its intransigence and arrogance.
"Ankara's declaration to minimize the level of relations with the occupation entity and suspend the military cooperation with the Zionists is an important prelude to isolating this entity as it is alien to the region," Islamic Jihad stated in a press release on Saturday.
The Movement urged all Islamic and Arab countries that have relations with the Israeli occupation to take similar firm decisions and hasten to stop their ties completely with it.
"Such decisions must be immediately announced and translated into action without delay in order to be more effective and deterrent to the Zionist savagery," it added.
"Ankara's declaration to minimize the level of relations with the occupation entity and suspend the military cooperation with the Zionists is an important prelude to isolating this entity as it is alien to the region," Islamic Jihad stated in a press release on Saturday.
The Movement urged all Islamic and Arab countries that have relations with the Israeli occupation to take similar firm decisions and hasten to stop their ties completely with it.
"Such decisions must be immediately announced and translated into action without delay in order to be more effective and deterrent to the Zionist savagery," it added.
PM: Israel will not apologize to Turkey
Benjamin Netanyahu adamant that Israel's actions during 2010 Gaza flotilla raid fall within its right to self-defense. Jerusalem regrets loss of life, he says; 'I hope we can mend our relations with Turkey'.
"Israel has the right to defend itself," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday, in his first official reaction to Turkey's decision to downgrade its diplomatic relations with Israel, following the release of the UN's Palmer Report.
"We do not have to apologize for the fact that Naval Commandos defended themselves," Netanyahu said during Sunday's cabinet meeting.
The UN's report, he said, proved what Israel already knew: "We have the full and basic right to defend ourselves from a violent IHH attack, and we don't have to apologize for trying to prevent arms smuggling to Hamas terrorists and for defending our citizens and our children.
"Just as IDF soldiers and commandos defend us, we will defend them – in any international forum," he added.
"Israel regrets any loss of life and I hope we can find a way to mend our relations with Turkey," Netanyahu said. "Israel never sought to see the situation deteriorate, nor do we wish it to remain like this."
The UN-commissioned report, which reviewed the events of the 2010 Gaza flotilla raid, found that Israel's maritime blockade of Gaza is legal, but expressed concerns over what it called the IDF's "excessive use of force" during the raid, which resulted in the deaths of nine Turkish citizens.
Turkey rejected the report's conclusions as biased and announced it was expelling the Israeli ambassador to Ankara and downgrading diplomatic relations with Israel to second-secretary level.
On Firday, Turkish President Abdullah Gul said that as far as Ankara was concerned, the Palmer Report was "null and void."
Ankara also announced it would be exploring its options against Israel with the International Court of Justice.
"Israel has the right to defend itself," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday, in his first official reaction to Turkey's decision to downgrade its diplomatic relations with Israel, following the release of the UN's Palmer Report.
"We do not have to apologize for the fact that Naval Commandos defended themselves," Netanyahu said during Sunday's cabinet meeting.
The UN's report, he said, proved what Israel already knew: "We have the full and basic right to defend ourselves from a violent IHH attack, and we don't have to apologize for trying to prevent arms smuggling to Hamas terrorists and for defending our citizens and our children.
"Just as IDF soldiers and commandos defend us, we will defend them – in any international forum," he added.
"Israel regrets any loss of life and I hope we can find a way to mend our relations with Turkey," Netanyahu said. "Israel never sought to see the situation deteriorate, nor do we wish it to remain like this."
The UN-commissioned report, which reviewed the events of the 2010 Gaza flotilla raid, found that Israel's maritime blockade of Gaza is legal, but expressed concerns over what it called the IDF's "excessive use of force" during the raid, which resulted in the deaths of nine Turkish citizens.
Turkey rejected the report's conclusions as biased and announced it was expelling the Israeli ambassador to Ankara and downgrading diplomatic relations with Israel to second-secretary level.
On Firday, Turkish President Abdullah Gul said that as far as Ankara was concerned, the Palmer Report was "null and void."
Ankara also announced it would be exploring its options against Israel with the International Court of Justice.
3 sept 2011
'Turkey must cut all ties with Israel'
Lawmaker Hossein Naqavi
A senior Iranian lawmaker has urged Turkey to take serious action towards completely severing its ties with Israel, downplaying Ankara's recent expulsion of the Israeli ambassador.
“[Turkey's] contracts and contacts [with Israel] are still in place with the expulsion of the ambassador of the [Israeli] regime,” member of the Majlis (Parliament) National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Hossein Naqavi told Fars News Agency on Saturday.
“If Turkey has the intention of taking practical measure vis-à-vis the Zionist regime [of Israel], [it] must display this practical measure by terminating and revoking its contracts with this regime,” he noted.
On Friday, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the country had suspended all its military ties with Tel Aviv and expelled Israel's envoy from Ankara.
The measures came in response to Israel's refusal to apologize for its attack on an aid flotilla, which set sail for the Tel Aviv-blockaded Gaza Strip in May 2010. Israeli soldiers attacked a Turkish-flagged aid convoy, killing nine Turkish activists and injuring many others.
At the time, the Israeli military claimed that its commandos opened fire only after being attacked with clubs and knives and acted in self-defense. But activists on board the Mavi Marmara said Israeli troops started shooting as soon as they boarded the ship.
A UN inquiry into the deadly incident also blamed Israeli troops for using excessive force after boarding the aid ship.
"Forensic evidence showing that most of the deceased were shot multiple times, including in the back, or at close range," the long awaited UN report also known as the Palmer report said.
A senior Iranian lawmaker has urged Turkey to take serious action towards completely severing its ties with Israel, downplaying Ankara's recent expulsion of the Israeli ambassador.
“[Turkey's] contracts and contacts [with Israel] are still in place with the expulsion of the ambassador of the [Israeli] regime,” member of the Majlis (Parliament) National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Hossein Naqavi told Fars News Agency on Saturday.
“If Turkey has the intention of taking practical measure vis-à-vis the Zionist regime [of Israel], [it] must display this practical measure by terminating and revoking its contracts with this regime,” he noted.
On Friday, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the country had suspended all its military ties with Tel Aviv and expelled Israel's envoy from Ankara.
The measures came in response to Israel's refusal to apologize for its attack on an aid flotilla, which set sail for the Tel Aviv-blockaded Gaza Strip in May 2010. Israeli soldiers attacked a Turkish-flagged aid convoy, killing nine Turkish activists and injuring many others.
At the time, the Israeli military claimed that its commandos opened fire only after being attacked with clubs and knives and acted in self-defense. But activists on board the Mavi Marmara said Israeli troops started shooting as soon as they boarded the ship.
A UN inquiry into the deadly incident also blamed Israeli troops for using excessive force after boarding the aid ship.
"Forensic evidence showing that most of the deceased were shot multiple times, including in the back, or at close range," the long awaited UN report also known as the Palmer report said.
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Update: Turkey to raise Israel's blockade at ICJ
Turkey said on Saturday that it would apply next week for an investigation by the International Court of Justice into the legality of Israel's naval blockade of Gaza.
Speaking to Turkish state-run television during a gathering of European foreign ministers in Poland, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu also reiterated Turkey's support for efforts to win recognition for a Palestinian state through the United Nations.
On Friday, Turkey expelled Israel's ambassador and froze military agreements with Israel after a UN report on the killing of nine Turks during an Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound ship a year ago failed to trigger an apology from Tel Aviv.
Aside from demanding an apology, and compensation for families, Turkey also insists Israel ends the blockade of Palestinians living in Gaza.
Israel says the blockade is needed to stop arms reaching militants from the Hamas movement that controls Gaza.
The UN report concluded that the blockade was "a legitimate security measure in order to prevent weapons entering Gaza by sea" .
Davutoglu said Turkey did not accept that conclusion, noting that it contradicted the UN Human Rights Council's findings.
"We will start the application process to International Court of Justice within the next week, for an investigation into what the Gaza blockade really is," Davutoglu told TRT news channel.
Turkey has also said it will pursue criminal cases against Israeli officials responsible for the killings of the nine Turks, one of whom was a US citizen.
Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, regarded as a hero in the Muslim world for championing the Palestinian cause, is expected to go to Egypt later this month for a visit that could deepen the rift with Israel.
There is speculation that Erdogan might go to Gaza through Egypt's Rafah border crossing to show solidarity with the Palestinians.
While both Turkey and Israel are allies of the West, the two have become estranged in recent years, largely because of the Palestinian issue.
A Turkish official said there were tentative plans for Erdogan to visit Egypt on Sept. 12, and, without specifying where, the official said Erdogan might go to another location during the trip.
Davutoglu warned Israel that the democratic forces unleashed by the Arab Spring would stoke animosity toward Tel Aviv unless it changed its policies.
"Israel has to make a choice, the Arab Spring will bring about a significant enmity against Israel if it fails to change its attitude regarding regional issues," Davutoglu told TRT news channel.
Palestinian Authority criticizes UN flotilla report
The Palestinian Authority on Saturday condemned a UN report into a deadly Israeli raid on a Turkish-led aid flotilla as a political document not based on international law.
"This report is terrible and negative. It's a purely political report, it's not legal," Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat said of the report on the May 2010 raid which killed nine Turkish activists.
"It's a political report that is not based on international law, but on the contrary, it violates international law, because the Gaza Strip is still under Israeli occupation," he told AFP.
"Israel's actions against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip has reached the level of war crimes," he said.
The UN report leaked on Thursday accused Israel of acting with "excessive force" in raiding the six-ship flotilla as it tried to sail to Gaza in breach of an Israeli blockade.
But it endorsed the legality of Israel's naval blockade of the coastal enclave, which Israel says is necessary to prevent the ruling Hamas movement from obtaining weapons.
The raid led to a deep crisis in ties between Israel and Turkey, and the report was delayed several times while the former allies tried to patch up their differences and repair relations.
Turkey demanded Israel apologize for the deaths, compensate the relatives of victims and lift the blockade on Gaza, terms all rejected by the Jewish state.
In the wake of the report's publication, Turkey said it was expelling Israel's ambassador to Ankara and suspending military agreements with Tel Aviv.
It also rejected the UN report and warned it would take its case against Israel to the International Criminal Court.
While Hamas said the report was "unjust" and lacked balance, Israel has said it accepts the findings with some reservations, though it has not outlined its specific objections.
UN flotilla report provokes angry reactions in Gaza
The UN report into Israel's deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla has provoked angry reactions in the Gaza Strip.
The report, made public Thursday, found that Israel's naval blockade of Gaza was legal but commandos used excessive force in the May 2010 incident, in which nine civilians were killed.
Written by a panel headed by former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer, the report said the naval blockade "was imposed as a legitimate security measure in order to prevent weapons from entering Gaza by sea and its implementation complied with the requirements of international law."
Gaza resident Jamal Zarra told Ma'an that no people in the world were besieged like the unarmed population of the Gaza Strip.
"How can the blockade be legal while we don't have medicines in hospitals, and our movement is restricted?"
He said international law had become subordinate to the permanent member states of the UN Security Council, while the rest of the world was "helpless."
Meanwhile, Popular Committee against the Siege spokesman Ali Nazli asked if international law "would allow besieging and starving 1.7 million people in Gaza, depriving them of medicine and humanitarian needs?"
He urged the international community to pressure Israel to end the occupation and to hold Tel Aviv accountable for its aggression on the coastal enclave.
Talal Ukal, a political analyst from Gaza said the report was "political, lacking professionalism, violating international laws and contradicting former declarations by UN officials who said the blockade on Gaza was illegal."
Director of the Palestinian Human Rights Center Hamdi Shaqoura says Palmer's report "is worthless because it stemmed from political incentives."
"What we are interested in is the UN Human Rights Council which considered the blockade illegal and collective punishment against Palestinian population," Shaqoura added.
Amnesty International said Friday that the recommendations of Palmer's report were "insufficient."
The human rights organization said a call for Israel to continue easing restrictions on movement of goods and people to and from Gaza failed to capture the spectrum of rights due to Gaza residents.
"This means allowing exports as well as imports, fully opening all the crossing points under Israeli control, allowing Gazans to use arable land inside the Strip currently off limits due to the open-fire rules employed by the IDF [Israeli army] in the 'buffer zone,' allowing Palestinian fishermen access to their coastal waters, and allowing travel between Gaza and the West Bank," Amnesty said.
The Gisha Legal Center for Freedom of Movement, an Israeli organization, also criticized the report as "a failed attempt to achieve political compromise."
"Stopping ships to Gaza for reasons of security is legal – the civilian closure of Gaza is not," Gisha said in a statement, adding that international law required Israel "to allow freedom of movement for people and civilian goods to and from the Strip, subject only to individual security inspections."
Gisha added: "The Palmer Commission did not review Israel's overall closure of the Gaza Strip, still in place today. For it to conform to the principles of international law, Israel must remove the sweeping restrictions on export of goods, movement of people between Gaza and the West Bank and entrance of construction materials."
Gul: Palmer report non-existent for Turkey
Turkish president Abdullah Gul said on Friday that Turkey considered the UN inquiry panel's report (Palmer report) on the Israeli attack last year on Mavi Marmara ship "non-existent."
Replying to a question on the Palmer report's not suggesting an apology for Turkey, Gul told reporters in Istanbul, "Such a report does not exist for us."
The president said Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu's latest remarks on the Palmer report reflected the position of the Turkish state.
"In fact, such measures should have been taken earlier, but in an effort to give chance to some ally countries' good-intentioned efforts, we have waited until today," Gul stated.
"Perhaps, certain circles could not understand our state's determination to show that incidents of the past are not forgotten and that we will always protect the rights of our citizens. The measures announced today constitute the first step. In line with the progress of events and Israel's stance, further measures can be taken in the future," he added.
Gul noted that the Israeli government did not have any reliability or strategy.
"Turkey, as the most powerful country in this region, will not only protect its own rights but also the rights of all the peoples in need. The international community should also be aware of that," the president stressed.
Israeli troops killed eight Turkish activists and an American of Turkish descent in the May 31, 2010 raid on Freedom Flotilla aid convoy in international waters.
In addition to not suggesting an apology for Turkey, Palmer report shockingly said that Israel's blockade of Gaza was legal.
In this regard, Al-Mizan center for human rights said that the UN probe committee led by Geoffrey Palmer, the former premier of New Zealand was "biased and unreliable."
The center added that Palmer report violated the international consensus and earlier many human rights reports that criminalized Israel's blockade on the Gaza Strip.
"In stark contrast with the position of the international community, the probe committee's report (Palmer report) concluded that the siege imposed by Israel on the Gaza Strip did not violate the international law and considered it a legal measure responsive to Israel's security and military needs," the center underlined.
The center emphasized that the formation of Palmer probe committee has always been questionable, especially since there was an earlier similar independent committee that was formed by the UN human rights council to investigate the attack and the blockade on Gaza.
This independent committee submitted its report to the human rights council at its 15th session, which criminalized both the attack on Freedom Flotilla and Gaza siege.
The UN human rights' probe committee highlighted in its report that Israel's blockade on Gaza was illegal and mass punishment violating the international law, especially article 33 of the fourth Geneva convention, Mizan center noted.
This committee's report concurred with the position of the Red Cross which confirmed in many reports that Israel's blockade of Gaza was mass punishment against civilian population and clearly violated its obligations under international humanitarian law, the center added.
It also pointed that Palmer report contradicted as well Goldstone report and the position of the international community in general against Gaza siege.
Speaking to Turkish state-run television during a gathering of European foreign ministers in Poland, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu also reiterated Turkey's support for efforts to win recognition for a Palestinian state through the United Nations.
On Friday, Turkey expelled Israel's ambassador and froze military agreements with Israel after a UN report on the killing of nine Turks during an Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound ship a year ago failed to trigger an apology from Tel Aviv.
Aside from demanding an apology, and compensation for families, Turkey also insists Israel ends the blockade of Palestinians living in Gaza.
Israel says the blockade is needed to stop arms reaching militants from the Hamas movement that controls Gaza.
The UN report concluded that the blockade was "a legitimate security measure in order to prevent weapons entering Gaza by sea" .
Davutoglu said Turkey did not accept that conclusion, noting that it contradicted the UN Human Rights Council's findings.
"We will start the application process to International Court of Justice within the next week, for an investigation into what the Gaza blockade really is," Davutoglu told TRT news channel.
Turkey has also said it will pursue criminal cases against Israeli officials responsible for the killings of the nine Turks, one of whom was a US citizen.
Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, regarded as a hero in the Muslim world for championing the Palestinian cause, is expected to go to Egypt later this month for a visit that could deepen the rift with Israel.
There is speculation that Erdogan might go to Gaza through Egypt's Rafah border crossing to show solidarity with the Palestinians.
While both Turkey and Israel are allies of the West, the two have become estranged in recent years, largely because of the Palestinian issue.
A Turkish official said there were tentative plans for Erdogan to visit Egypt on Sept. 12, and, without specifying where, the official said Erdogan might go to another location during the trip.
Davutoglu warned Israel that the democratic forces unleashed by the Arab Spring would stoke animosity toward Tel Aviv unless it changed its policies.
"Israel has to make a choice, the Arab Spring will bring about a significant enmity against Israel if it fails to change its attitude regarding regional issues," Davutoglu told TRT news channel.
Palestinian Authority criticizes UN flotilla report
The Palestinian Authority on Saturday condemned a UN report into a deadly Israeli raid on a Turkish-led aid flotilla as a political document not based on international law.
"This report is terrible and negative. It's a purely political report, it's not legal," Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat said of the report on the May 2010 raid which killed nine Turkish activists.
"It's a political report that is not based on international law, but on the contrary, it violates international law, because the Gaza Strip is still under Israeli occupation," he told AFP.
"Israel's actions against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip has reached the level of war crimes," he said.
The UN report leaked on Thursday accused Israel of acting with "excessive force" in raiding the six-ship flotilla as it tried to sail to Gaza in breach of an Israeli blockade.
But it endorsed the legality of Israel's naval blockade of the coastal enclave, which Israel says is necessary to prevent the ruling Hamas movement from obtaining weapons.
The raid led to a deep crisis in ties between Israel and Turkey, and the report was delayed several times while the former allies tried to patch up their differences and repair relations.
Turkey demanded Israel apologize for the deaths, compensate the relatives of victims and lift the blockade on Gaza, terms all rejected by the Jewish state.
In the wake of the report's publication, Turkey said it was expelling Israel's ambassador to Ankara and suspending military agreements with Tel Aviv.
It also rejected the UN report and warned it would take its case against Israel to the International Criminal Court.
While Hamas said the report was "unjust" and lacked balance, Israel has said it accepts the findings with some reservations, though it has not outlined its specific objections.
UN flotilla report provokes angry reactions in Gaza
The UN report into Israel's deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla has provoked angry reactions in the Gaza Strip.
The report, made public Thursday, found that Israel's naval blockade of Gaza was legal but commandos used excessive force in the May 2010 incident, in which nine civilians were killed.
Written by a panel headed by former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer, the report said the naval blockade "was imposed as a legitimate security measure in order to prevent weapons from entering Gaza by sea and its implementation complied with the requirements of international law."
Gaza resident Jamal Zarra told Ma'an that no people in the world were besieged like the unarmed population of the Gaza Strip.
"How can the blockade be legal while we don't have medicines in hospitals, and our movement is restricted?"
He said international law had become subordinate to the permanent member states of the UN Security Council, while the rest of the world was "helpless."
Meanwhile, Popular Committee against the Siege spokesman Ali Nazli asked if international law "would allow besieging and starving 1.7 million people in Gaza, depriving them of medicine and humanitarian needs?"
He urged the international community to pressure Israel to end the occupation and to hold Tel Aviv accountable for its aggression on the coastal enclave.
Talal Ukal, a political analyst from Gaza said the report was "political, lacking professionalism, violating international laws and contradicting former declarations by UN officials who said the blockade on Gaza was illegal."
Director of the Palestinian Human Rights Center Hamdi Shaqoura says Palmer's report "is worthless because it stemmed from political incentives."
"What we are interested in is the UN Human Rights Council which considered the blockade illegal and collective punishment against Palestinian population," Shaqoura added.
Amnesty International said Friday that the recommendations of Palmer's report were "insufficient."
The human rights organization said a call for Israel to continue easing restrictions on movement of goods and people to and from Gaza failed to capture the spectrum of rights due to Gaza residents.
"This means allowing exports as well as imports, fully opening all the crossing points under Israeli control, allowing Gazans to use arable land inside the Strip currently off limits due to the open-fire rules employed by the IDF [Israeli army] in the 'buffer zone,' allowing Palestinian fishermen access to their coastal waters, and allowing travel between Gaza and the West Bank," Amnesty said.
The Gisha Legal Center for Freedom of Movement, an Israeli organization, also criticized the report as "a failed attempt to achieve political compromise."
"Stopping ships to Gaza for reasons of security is legal – the civilian closure of Gaza is not," Gisha said in a statement, adding that international law required Israel "to allow freedom of movement for people and civilian goods to and from the Strip, subject only to individual security inspections."
Gisha added: "The Palmer Commission did not review Israel's overall closure of the Gaza Strip, still in place today. For it to conform to the principles of international law, Israel must remove the sweeping restrictions on export of goods, movement of people between Gaza and the West Bank and entrance of construction materials."
Gul: Palmer report non-existent for Turkey
Turkish president Abdullah Gul said on Friday that Turkey considered the UN inquiry panel's report (Palmer report) on the Israeli attack last year on Mavi Marmara ship "non-existent."
Replying to a question on the Palmer report's not suggesting an apology for Turkey, Gul told reporters in Istanbul, "Such a report does not exist for us."
The president said Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu's latest remarks on the Palmer report reflected the position of the Turkish state.
"In fact, such measures should have been taken earlier, but in an effort to give chance to some ally countries' good-intentioned efforts, we have waited until today," Gul stated.
"Perhaps, certain circles could not understand our state's determination to show that incidents of the past are not forgotten and that we will always protect the rights of our citizens. The measures announced today constitute the first step. In line with the progress of events and Israel's stance, further measures can be taken in the future," he added.
Gul noted that the Israeli government did not have any reliability or strategy.
"Turkey, as the most powerful country in this region, will not only protect its own rights but also the rights of all the peoples in need. The international community should also be aware of that," the president stressed.
Israeli troops killed eight Turkish activists and an American of Turkish descent in the May 31, 2010 raid on Freedom Flotilla aid convoy in international waters.
In addition to not suggesting an apology for Turkey, Palmer report shockingly said that Israel's blockade of Gaza was legal.
In this regard, Al-Mizan center for human rights said that the UN probe committee led by Geoffrey Palmer, the former premier of New Zealand was "biased and unreliable."
The center added that Palmer report violated the international consensus and earlier many human rights reports that criminalized Israel's blockade on the Gaza Strip.
"In stark contrast with the position of the international community, the probe committee's report (Palmer report) concluded that the siege imposed by Israel on the Gaza Strip did not violate the international law and considered it a legal measure responsive to Israel's security and military needs," the center underlined.
The center emphasized that the formation of Palmer probe committee has always been questionable, especially since there was an earlier similar independent committee that was formed by the UN human rights council to investigate the attack and the blockade on Gaza.
This independent committee submitted its report to the human rights council at its 15th session, which criminalized both the attack on Freedom Flotilla and Gaza siege.
The UN human rights' probe committee highlighted in its report that Israel's blockade on Gaza was illegal and mass punishment violating the international law, especially article 33 of the fourth Geneva convention, Mizan center noted.
This committee's report concurred with the position of the Red Cross which confirmed in many reports that Israel's blockade of Gaza was mass punishment against civilian population and clearly violated its obligations under international humanitarian law, the center added.
It also pointed that Palmer report contradicted as well Goldstone report and the position of the international community in general against Gaza siege.
Rights orgs: Gaza siege illegal, Palmer recommendations fall far short of justice
Major rights organizations say that recommendations made by a UN panel inquiry into Israel’s deadly use of force on the Mavi Marmara aid ship last year do not provide effective remedy for the victims and their families. The report was expected to be released today by the UN secretary-general but a copy was leaked yesterday to The New York Times.
The Palmer report, named after the former prime minister of New Zealand who chaired the panel of inquiry, which included former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and Israeli and Turkish representatives, recommends that Israel apologize to and compensate the families of those killed and injured during the maritime raid.
In his blog on The Electronic Intifada today, Ali Abunimah describes the Palmer report as “worthless,” given that the panel was “stacked for Israel” and includes “notorious human rights abuser” Uribe.
In a special report for The Electronic Intifada last summer titled “Uribe’s appointment to flotilla probe guarantees its failure,” Jose Antonio Gutierrez and David Landy detail Uribe’s long and shocking list of human rights abuses.
Abunimah also criticizes the report as it heavily relies on Israel as a primary source, which has “controlled and withheld most of the evidence.” As Amnesty International noted today, “The Panel did not have the power to compel witnesses to testify and based its review on the Israeli and Turkish national investigations into the incident, which reached very different conclusions.”
Amnesty: apology, compensation not justice
Statements issued by rights organizations today also find fault with the report.
While generally welcoming of the Palmer report, in its statement Amnesty International describes the report’s recommendations as less than full justice for the victims:
Amnesty International stresses, however, that an apology and compensation are only two elements of victims’ right to an effective remedy, which also includes accountability through criminal prosecutions where sufficient evidence is available.The Palmer report also finds Israel’s naval blockade on Gaza — which the activists aboard the Mavi Marmara and other other ships among the Gaza Freedom Flotilla were attempting to break — to be legal, even though the Mavi Marmara was attacked in international waters.
This “finding” is essentially a hasbara gift to the Israeli government, which will use it to whitewash the cruel human experiment that is the siege on Gaza.
Amnesty International states:
The question of the legality of this closure regime, often referred to as the Gaza “blockade”, was not directly addressed by the Palmer report, which focused on the naval blockade of Gaza. The report does, however, note that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is “unsustainable”, and it calls on Israel to “continue with its efforts to ease its restrictions on movement of goods and persons to and from Gaza”.Amnesty International believes that this recommendation is insufficient. Gaza’s 1.5 million residents should not simply be seen as recipients of humanitarian assistance, but as people with rights to health, education, work, an adequate standard of living, and freedom of movement, all of which continue to be violated by the Israeli-imposed siege. Israel should completely lift its illegal siege on Gaza, which violates the prohibition on collective punishment in the Fourth Geneva Convention. This means allowing exports as well as imports, fully opening all the crossing points under Israeli control, allowing Gazans to use arable land inside the Strip currently off limits due to the open-fire rules employed by the IDF [Israeli military] in the “buffer zone”, allowing Palestinian fishermen access to their coastal waters, and allowing travel between Gaza and the West Bank, which are considered as one territory under the Oslo Accords and international humanitarian law.
The Palmer report’s finding that the naval blockade is lawful should not be interpreted to mean that the entire closure regime imposed on Gaza is legal. (emphasis mine)
Center for Constitutional Rights: Israel cannot impose naval blockade
The New York City-based Center for Constitutional Rights also issued a statement today critical of the Palmer report, using even stronger language than Amnesty:
The Center for Constitutional Rights strongly denounces the conclusion by the Secretary-General’s Panel of Inquiry that the naval blockade of Gaza is legal, a finding that is inconsistent with international law as set forth by CCR in a legal analysis, and contradicted by conclusions of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Human Rights Council Fact-Finding Mission to investigate violations of international law resulting from the Israeli attacks on the flotilla, as well as numerous human rights organizations.Under international law, Israel cannot impose a naval blockade on Gaza, a territory it continues to occupy by exerting effective control over it. The blockade also constitutes collective punishment prohibited by the Geneva Conventions, and has caused excessive and disproportionate harm to the civilian population. The blockade of Gaza has led to a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions, widespread failure of public infrastructure, and chronic unemployment due to the blockade’s systemic undermining of Gaza’s economy.
The Center for Constitutional Rights does, however, agree with the panel that the human rights and humanitarian situation in Gaza is “unsustainable, unacceptable and not in the interests of any of those concerned.”
Notwithstanding the flawed legal analysis and suspect composition of the Panel of Inquiry, it does make some factual findings that are worth noting. The panel found that the way in which Israel boarded the flotilla was excessive and unreasonable, and that Israel had no satisfactory explanation for how nine passengers were killed, all of whom the evidence showed were unarmed. The panel found that United States citizen Furkan Dogan was shot multiple times, shot at extremely close range, and shot in the back of his head, and that the evidence suggests he may already have been lying wounded when the fatal shot was delivered.
The families of the nine passengers who were killed, the many passengers who were injured, and all those who have yet to receive their stolen property from Israel, including evidence, have a right to redress, justice and accountability. The United States government must assist the family of American human rights defender Furkan Doanan in particular in their quest for justice, and disclose any information it has on Israel’s attack on the flotilla. (emphasis mine)
Toward this end, the Center for Constitutional Rights adds:
In June 2010, the Center for Constitutional Rights filed eight Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests regarding the US government’s knowledge of, and actions in relation to, Israel’s attack on the flotilla. After fruitlessly working for nearly a year to obtain responses from the agencies, on May 24, 2011, CCR filed a civil complaint against eight departments of the United States government in order to get adequate responses. CCR has also been working with Professor Ahmet Dogan, the father of Furkan Dogan, the US citizen killed on the Mavi Marmara, to advocate for accountability in the United States.In February of this year, Kristin Szremski interviewed Ahmet Dogan for The Electronic Inifada. Szremski reported: “[Dogan and his lawyers] want to ask the United States to initiate its own investigation into Furkan’s death. Dogan also wants to know why American authorities have shown such little interest in the execution of his son.”
The family of Furkan Dogan and the other eight victims of the flotilla raid still wait for justice for their loved ones.
The Palmer report, named after the former prime minister of New Zealand who chaired the panel of inquiry, which included former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and Israeli and Turkish representatives, recommends that Israel apologize to and compensate the families of those killed and injured during the maritime raid.
In his blog on The Electronic Intifada today, Ali Abunimah describes the Palmer report as “worthless,” given that the panel was “stacked for Israel” and includes “notorious human rights abuser” Uribe.
In a special report for The Electronic Intifada last summer titled “Uribe’s appointment to flotilla probe guarantees its failure,” Jose Antonio Gutierrez and David Landy detail Uribe’s long and shocking list of human rights abuses.
Abunimah also criticizes the report as it heavily relies on Israel as a primary source, which has “controlled and withheld most of the evidence.” As Amnesty International noted today, “The Panel did not have the power to compel witnesses to testify and based its review on the Israeli and Turkish national investigations into the incident, which reached very different conclusions.”
Amnesty: apology, compensation not justice
Statements issued by rights organizations today also find fault with the report.
While generally welcoming of the Palmer report, in its statement Amnesty International describes the report’s recommendations as less than full justice for the victims:
Amnesty International stresses, however, that an apology and compensation are only two elements of victims’ right to an effective remedy, which also includes accountability through criminal prosecutions where sufficient evidence is available.The Palmer report also finds Israel’s naval blockade on Gaza — which the activists aboard the Mavi Marmara and other other ships among the Gaza Freedom Flotilla were attempting to break — to be legal, even though the Mavi Marmara was attacked in international waters.
This “finding” is essentially a hasbara gift to the Israeli government, which will use it to whitewash the cruel human experiment that is the siege on Gaza.
Amnesty International states:
The question of the legality of this closure regime, often referred to as the Gaza “blockade”, was not directly addressed by the Palmer report, which focused on the naval blockade of Gaza. The report does, however, note that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is “unsustainable”, and it calls on Israel to “continue with its efforts to ease its restrictions on movement of goods and persons to and from Gaza”.Amnesty International believes that this recommendation is insufficient. Gaza’s 1.5 million residents should not simply be seen as recipients of humanitarian assistance, but as people with rights to health, education, work, an adequate standard of living, and freedom of movement, all of which continue to be violated by the Israeli-imposed siege. Israel should completely lift its illegal siege on Gaza, which violates the prohibition on collective punishment in the Fourth Geneva Convention. This means allowing exports as well as imports, fully opening all the crossing points under Israeli control, allowing Gazans to use arable land inside the Strip currently off limits due to the open-fire rules employed by the IDF [Israeli military] in the “buffer zone”, allowing Palestinian fishermen access to their coastal waters, and allowing travel between Gaza and the West Bank, which are considered as one territory under the Oslo Accords and international humanitarian law.
The Palmer report’s finding that the naval blockade is lawful should not be interpreted to mean that the entire closure regime imposed on Gaza is legal. (emphasis mine)
Center for Constitutional Rights: Israel cannot impose naval blockade
The New York City-based Center for Constitutional Rights also issued a statement today critical of the Palmer report, using even stronger language than Amnesty:
The Center for Constitutional Rights strongly denounces the conclusion by the Secretary-General’s Panel of Inquiry that the naval blockade of Gaza is legal, a finding that is inconsistent with international law as set forth by CCR in a legal analysis, and contradicted by conclusions of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Human Rights Council Fact-Finding Mission to investigate violations of international law resulting from the Israeli attacks on the flotilla, as well as numerous human rights organizations.Under international law, Israel cannot impose a naval blockade on Gaza, a territory it continues to occupy by exerting effective control over it. The blockade also constitutes collective punishment prohibited by the Geneva Conventions, and has caused excessive and disproportionate harm to the civilian population. The blockade of Gaza has led to a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions, widespread failure of public infrastructure, and chronic unemployment due to the blockade’s systemic undermining of Gaza’s economy.
The Center for Constitutional Rights does, however, agree with the panel that the human rights and humanitarian situation in Gaza is “unsustainable, unacceptable and not in the interests of any of those concerned.”
Notwithstanding the flawed legal analysis and suspect composition of the Panel of Inquiry, it does make some factual findings that are worth noting. The panel found that the way in which Israel boarded the flotilla was excessive and unreasonable, and that Israel had no satisfactory explanation for how nine passengers were killed, all of whom the evidence showed were unarmed. The panel found that United States citizen Furkan Dogan was shot multiple times, shot at extremely close range, and shot in the back of his head, and that the evidence suggests he may already have been lying wounded when the fatal shot was delivered.
The families of the nine passengers who were killed, the many passengers who were injured, and all those who have yet to receive their stolen property from Israel, including evidence, have a right to redress, justice and accountability. The United States government must assist the family of American human rights defender Furkan Doanan in particular in their quest for justice, and disclose any information it has on Israel’s attack on the flotilla. (emphasis mine)
Toward this end, the Center for Constitutional Rights adds:
In June 2010, the Center for Constitutional Rights filed eight Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests regarding the US government’s knowledge of, and actions in relation to, Israel’s attack on the flotilla. After fruitlessly working for nearly a year to obtain responses from the agencies, on May 24, 2011, CCR filed a civil complaint against eight departments of the United States government in order to get adequate responses. CCR has also been working with Professor Ahmet Dogan, the father of Furkan Dogan, the US citizen killed on the Mavi Marmara, to advocate for accountability in the United States.In February of this year, Kristin Szremski interviewed Ahmet Dogan for The Electronic Inifada. Szremski reported: “[Dogan and his lawyers] want to ask the United States to initiate its own investigation into Furkan’s death. Dogan also wants to know why American authorities have shown such little interest in the execution of his son.”
The family of Furkan Dogan and the other eight victims of the flotilla raid still wait for justice for their loved ones.
Amnesty: UN flotilla report recommendations 'insufficient'
The recommendations of the UN-sponsored Palmer report into Israel's deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla do not go far enough, Amnesty International said Friday.
The international rights group also said the report, written by a panel headed by former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer, does not imply Israel's blockade on the coastal strip is lawful, but simply addresses the naval blockade.
Amnesty welcomed the UN's finding that the Israeli army used "excessive force" in its takeover of the lead ship, the Mavi Marmara, in which nine Turkish nationals were killed.
This "concurs with Amnesty International’s assessment" and with the September 2010 findings of a UN Human Rights Council probe into the incident, a statement from the group said.
But Amnesty said recommendations of the latest report, released on Thursday, were "insufficient".
The human rights organization said a call for Israel to continue easing restrictions on movement of goods and people to and from Gaza failed to capture the spectrum of rights due to Gaza residents.
"This means allowing exports as well as imports, fully opening all the crossing points under Israeli control, allowing Gazans to use arable land inside the Strip currently off limits due to the open-fire rules employed by the IDF [Israeli army] in the 'buffer zone,' allowing Palestinian fishermen access to their coastal waters, and allowing travel between Gaza and the West Bank," Amnesty said.
The statement also noted that victims of the Israeli raid were due more than the report's recommendation of an "appropriate statement of regret."
"An apology and compensation are only two elements of victims’ right to an effective remedy, which also includes accountability through criminal prosecutions where sufficient evidence is available," the group said.
Amnesty added its own recommendation in response to the UN panel's mandate to pose how to avoid such events recurring.
"The best way to avoid similar incidents is for Israel to fully and immediately lift the siege imposed on Gaza since June 2007, and allow Gazans to rebuild the homes, schools, clinics and infrastructure destroyed by the Israeli military," the statement said.
The international rights group also said the report, written by a panel headed by former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer, does not imply Israel's blockade on the coastal strip is lawful, but simply addresses the naval blockade.
Amnesty welcomed the UN's finding that the Israeli army used "excessive force" in its takeover of the lead ship, the Mavi Marmara, in which nine Turkish nationals were killed.
This "concurs with Amnesty International’s assessment" and with the September 2010 findings of a UN Human Rights Council probe into the incident, a statement from the group said.
But Amnesty said recommendations of the latest report, released on Thursday, were "insufficient".
The human rights organization said a call for Israel to continue easing restrictions on movement of goods and people to and from Gaza failed to capture the spectrum of rights due to Gaza residents.
"This means allowing exports as well as imports, fully opening all the crossing points under Israeli control, allowing Gazans to use arable land inside the Strip currently off limits due to the open-fire rules employed by the IDF [Israeli army] in the 'buffer zone,' allowing Palestinian fishermen access to their coastal waters, and allowing travel between Gaza and the West Bank," Amnesty said.
The statement also noted that victims of the Israeli raid were due more than the report's recommendation of an "appropriate statement of regret."
"An apology and compensation are only two elements of victims’ right to an effective remedy, which also includes accountability through criminal prosecutions where sufficient evidence is available," the group said.
Amnesty added its own recommendation in response to the UN panel's mandate to pose how to avoid such events recurring.
"The best way to avoid similar incidents is for Israel to fully and immediately lift the siege imposed on Gaza since June 2007, and allow Gazans to rebuild the homes, schools, clinics and infrastructure destroyed by the Israeli military," the statement said.
Report: Turkey navy to escort aid ships to Palestinians in Gaza
Israeli naval ships escort an intercepted Gaza-bound aid ship, July 19, 2011
The Turkish navy will significantly strengthen its presence in the eastern Mediterranean Sea as one of the steps the Turkish government has decided to take following the release of the UN Palmer report on the 2010 Gaza flotilla, Turkish officials told the Hurriyet Daily News.
"The eastern Mediterranean will no longer be a place where Israeli naval forces can freely exercise their bullying practices against civilian vessels," a Turkish official was quoted as saying.
As part of the plan, the Turkish navy will increase its patrols in the eastern Mediterranean and pursue "a more aggressive strategy".
According to the report, Turkish naval vessels will accompany civilian ships carrying aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Another goal of the plan is to ensure free navigation in the region between Cyprus and Israel. The region includes areas where Israel and Cyprus cooperate in drilling for oil and gas.
Additionally, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan instructed his foreign ministry to organize a trip for him to the Gaza Strip in the near future.
"We are looking for the best timing for the visit,” a Turkish official was quoted as saying. “Our primary purpose is to draw the world’s attention to what is going on in Gaza and to push the international community to end the unfair embargo imposed by Israel.”
The Turkish navy will significantly strengthen its presence in the eastern Mediterranean Sea as one of the steps the Turkish government has decided to take following the release of the UN Palmer report on the 2010 Gaza flotilla, Turkish officials told the Hurriyet Daily News.
"The eastern Mediterranean will no longer be a place where Israeli naval forces can freely exercise their bullying practices against civilian vessels," a Turkish official was quoted as saying.
As part of the plan, the Turkish navy will increase its patrols in the eastern Mediterranean and pursue "a more aggressive strategy".
According to the report, Turkish naval vessels will accompany civilian ships carrying aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Another goal of the plan is to ensure free navigation in the region between Cyprus and Israel. The region includes areas where Israel and Cyprus cooperate in drilling for oil and gas.
Additionally, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan instructed his foreign ministry to organize a trip for him to the Gaza Strip in the near future.
"We are looking for the best timing for the visit,” a Turkish official was quoted as saying. “Our primary purpose is to draw the world’s attention to what is going on in Gaza and to push the international community to end the unfair embargo imposed by Israel.”
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Israel: No plans to apologize to Turkey
Israel will not apologize to Turkey despite the expulsion of its ambassador, state officials clarified Friday according to reports in the Israeli media.
"Israel, like any other country, has the legitimate right to defend its citizens and soldiers," they stressed, according to the Israeli news site Ynet. "The State of Israel hopes a way will be found to overcome the disagreements, and will continue to work to achieve this goal."
The sources said that during the raid, Israeli soldiers boarded the Marmara ship without any lethal weapons, the news site reported. "The soldiers on board had no intention of hurting anyone," they said.
"Once the soldiers were attacked brutally by dozens of violent IHH activists, armed with clubs, knives and steel tubes, the troops were forced to defend themselves."
"Israel, like any other country, has the legitimate right to defend its citizens and soldiers," they stressed, according to the Israeli news site Ynet. "The State of Israel hopes a way will be found to overcome the disagreements, and will continue to work to achieve this goal."
The sources said that during the raid, Israeli soldiers boarded the Marmara ship without any lethal weapons, the news site reported. "The soldiers on board had no intention of hurting anyone," they said.
"Once the soldiers were attacked brutally by dozens of violent IHH activists, armed with clubs, knives and steel tubes, the troops were forced to defend themselves."
The Palmer Committee chaired by former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer called on Israel to issue a statement expressing regret over the attack and to pay compensation to the families of those killed and injured.
In his statement, Abu Zuhri lauded Turkey over its decision to expel the Israeli ambassador and further reduce once strong diplomatic ties with Israel in the wake of the attack.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu declared earlier that his country had downgraded its diplomatic ties with Israel to the level of second secretary and froze all security agreements between the two countries.
Israel's May 2010 attack of the Gaza aid flotilla left nine Turkish activists dead and dozens injured.
Davutoglu reiterated that Turkey rejects Israel's siege on the Gaza Strip and would officially request that the United Nations and its Security Council would study and pass a resolution with regard to the five-year blockade.
Foreign ministry: Palmer report not objective
The Palestinian foreign ministry in Gaza has criticized the Palmer report on the Israeli attack on the Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla, expressing surprise at its finding regarding the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip.
It charged that the report lacked “objectivity and professionalism”, which made it default on the siege and its “destructive consequences”, adding that the siege is one of the results of occupation.
The report justified Israel’s “oppressive and illegal siege”, which most countries of the world deemed unacceptable and should be lifted, the ministry said, and expressed absolute rejection of such justifications that only allowed Israel to continue its blockade and aggression against the Gaza Strip.
The ministry asked the UN to revise its position regarding the siege on Gaza since it owns specific reports on the degree of oppression and suffering that befell the Strip as a result of the siege.
Zahhar: UN flotilla report biased, justifies siege on Palestinians
Senior Hamas official Mahmoud al-Zahhar accused Saturday the UN-commissioned Palmer report into Israel’s 2010 flotilla attack of not being neutral, as it deemed the Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip legal.
He also called on Turkey to take further sanctions against Israel.
“When the report says the siege is legal, it justifies Israel’s blockage of any party or movement that wants to break the siege on 1.5m Palestinians in Gaza,” Zahhar said in a statement to Lebanon’s Al-Safir newspaper.
“The report has a clear bias against Turkey and the Palestinians and clearly comes as a result of Israel-American pressure,” he said.
“It is reasonable that Turkey would expel the Israeli ambassador and cut its ties with Israel,” Zahhar declared.
In a separate statement, Sawasya center for human rights in Gaza stated that the Palmer report’s justification of the Gaza siege makes the world community an accomplice in Israel’s five-year blockade, adding that the report gives Israel a “new green light” to commit more war crimes against the Palestinians.
In his statement, Abu Zuhri lauded Turkey over its decision to expel the Israeli ambassador and further reduce once strong diplomatic ties with Israel in the wake of the attack.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu declared earlier that his country had downgraded its diplomatic ties with Israel to the level of second secretary and froze all security agreements between the two countries.
Israel's May 2010 attack of the Gaza aid flotilla left nine Turkish activists dead and dozens injured.
Davutoglu reiterated that Turkey rejects Israel's siege on the Gaza Strip and would officially request that the United Nations and its Security Council would study and pass a resolution with regard to the five-year blockade.
Foreign ministry: Palmer report not objective
The Palestinian foreign ministry in Gaza has criticized the Palmer report on the Israeli attack on the Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla, expressing surprise at its finding regarding the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip.
It charged that the report lacked “objectivity and professionalism”, which made it default on the siege and its “destructive consequences”, adding that the siege is one of the results of occupation.
The report justified Israel’s “oppressive and illegal siege”, which most countries of the world deemed unacceptable and should be lifted, the ministry said, and expressed absolute rejection of such justifications that only allowed Israel to continue its blockade and aggression against the Gaza Strip.
The ministry asked the UN to revise its position regarding the siege on Gaza since it owns specific reports on the degree of oppression and suffering that befell the Strip as a result of the siege.
Zahhar: UN flotilla report biased, justifies siege on Palestinians
Senior Hamas official Mahmoud al-Zahhar accused Saturday the UN-commissioned Palmer report into Israel’s 2010 flotilla attack of not being neutral, as it deemed the Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip legal.
He also called on Turkey to take further sanctions against Israel.
“When the report says the siege is legal, it justifies Israel’s blockage of any party or movement that wants to break the siege on 1.5m Palestinians in Gaza,” Zahhar said in a statement to Lebanon’s Al-Safir newspaper.
“The report has a clear bias against Turkey and the Palestinians and clearly comes as a result of Israel-American pressure,” he said.
“It is reasonable that Turkey would expel the Israeli ambassador and cut its ties with Israel,” Zahhar declared.
In a separate statement, Sawasya center for human rights in Gaza stated that the Palmer report’s justification of the Gaza siege makes the world community an accomplice in Israel’s five-year blockade, adding that the report gives Israel a “new green light” to commit more war crimes against the Palestinians.
European ministers urge Turkey-Israel dialogue
European foreign ministers including France's Alain Juppe and Germany's Guido Westerwelle on Saturday urged Israel and Turkey to resume dialogue after a rift over a deadly Israeli flotilla raid.
"Our wishes are like those of the UN secretary general who said that this dispute between Israel and Turkey must be resolved through dialogue and mutual understanding, not via other means," Juppe told reporters at an informal EU foreign ministers meeting in the Polish Baltic Sea port of Sopot.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon appealed Saturday for Turkey and Israel to make up after Ankara took retaliatory measures over Tel Aviv's May 2010 raid on a Gaza-bound Turkish flotilla which left eight Turks dead.
"The German government is very worried by the recent dispute between Turkey and Israel," Westerwelle said at a separate press conference in Sopot Saturday, urging "all parties" to seek a solution.
Their words were a message sent loud and clear to Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who was pressing his country's bid to join the EU at the Sopot meeting Saturday.
Davutoglu, who attended the EU talks on Saturday morning as Turkey is a candidate for membership of the bloc, refused all comment on the incident as well as contact with the international press.
"I don't give statements on the way", he told AFP as he headed for the airport.
Israel on Friday reiterated its refusal to apologize to Ankara for the raid. Meanwhile, NATO member Turkey suspended bilateral military ties with Israel and expelled Israeli ambassador Gaby Levy.
The Turkish measures came after a leaked copy of the UN-mandated report criticized Israeli troops for using "excessive" and "unreasonable" force when boarding the ferry Mavi Marmara in international waters on May 31, 2010, leading to the deaths of nine people.
Turkey vows legal action against Israel
Turkey says it will seek legal action against the Israeli regime for its deadly raid on a Gaza-bound relief aid Flotilla last year after Ankara further downgraded its ties with Tel Aviv.
"Turkey will take legal actions against the Israeli soldiers and all other officials responsible for the crimes committed and pursue the matter resolutely," Turkey's embassy in Washington said in a statement, Reuters reported.
The threat came after a UN report said that Israel had used unreasonable force in its raid on the Gaza-bound aid flotilla in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea in May 2010, during which nine Turkish activities were killed.
The report also described Israel's naval blockade on Gaza, which has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the impoverished territory, as 'legal.'
One day after the UN report was leaked to The New York Times, Ankara suspended all its military ties with Tel Aviv and has expelled Israel's envoy from Ankara over the regime's refusal to apologize for the attack on the Gaza-bound flotilla.
"Turkey also reaffirms that relations between Turkey and Israel will not normalize as long as Israel does not apologize and refuses to pay compensation for what it has done," said Ankara's embassy in Washington in a statement.
Turkey's President Abduallah Gul also said that expulsion of the Israeli envoy is just the first step in many possible measures taken against Israel if it persists in its refusal to apologize.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon on Saturday expressed his optimism that the two former allies could mend ties.
"I sincerely hope that Israel and Turkey will improve their relationship," Ban told reporters in the Australian capital, Canberra.
"Normal relationship will be very important in addressing all the situations in the Middle East, including the Middle East peace process," he said.
Observers believe Ban's statement and the recent UN report that legitimizes Israel's brutal siege of Gaza and its attack on a relief aid convoy reflect Tel Aviv's undue influence on the world body.
UN allows Israel to get away with murder
The long-awaited United Nations inquiry into Israel’s attack on the Mavi Marmara, the flagship of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, on May 31, 2010 has ruled that Israel’s naval blockade of the Gaza Strip is both legal and appropriate.
The UN-mandated inquiry also ruled that Israel’s action, in which nine Turkish citizens were killed, was “excessive” but not a violation of international law and has held both Israel and the Gaza Freedom Flotilla activists responsible for the violence.
This is a miscarriage of justice.
According to the UN investigators, the occupied and the occupiers are now the same and there’s no difference between the killers and the killed.
Israel and some other privileged countries are allowed to flout intentional law.
For example, the Israelis have been allowed to steal a people’s homeland, build homes and farms there, and confine 1.6 million people in a 360-square-kilometer coastal territory. They have also been allowed to make life a living hell for the Palestinians by besieging them from three sides and coercing former Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak to do the same on the fourth side of the Gaza Strip.
But according to the UN, all this is “legal and appropriate” since the oppressors are given certain privileges by the Western powers and the oppressed are just characters from Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables.
And the Palestinians cannot get even the simplest condemnation of the Zionist regime from the UN, even if it launches a full-scale military assault on the people of Gaza, kills over 1400 civilians, and destroys schools, hospitals, mosques, and the infrastructure of the territory.
UN panels do not regard this as a violation of international law and specifically the Geneva Conventions, which clearly state that the occupier is responsible for providing the basic necessities of life to the people of the occupied territory.
According to the Fourth Geneva Convention, the occupier is bound to “ensure the food and medical supplies of the population” as well as “agree to relief schemes on behalf of the… population” and maintain “public health and hygiene.”
Articles 55 and 56 of the Fourth Geneva Convention are related to the protection of civilians in time of war.
Article 55 says: “To the fullest extent of the means available to it the Occupying Power has the duty of ensuring the food and medical supplies of the population; it should, in particular, bring in the necessary foodstuffs, medical stores and other articles if the resources of the occupied territory are inadequate.
“The Occupying Power may not requisition foodstuffs, articles or medical supplies available in the occupied territory, except for use by the occupation forces and administration personnel, and then only if the requirements of the civilian population have been taken into account. Subject to the provisions of other international Conventions, the Occupying Power shall make arrangements to ensure that fair value is paid for any requisitioned goods.
“The Protecting Power shall, at any time, be at liberty to verify the state of the food and medical supplies in occupied territories, except where temporary restrictions are made necessary by imperative military requirements.”
Article 56 states: “To the fullest extent of the means available to it, the Occupying Power has the duty of ensuring and maintaining, with the cooperation of national and local authorities, the medical and hospital establishments and services, public health and hygiene in the occupied territory, with particular reference to the adoption and application of the prophylactic and preventive measures necessary to combat the spread of contagious diseases and epidemics. Medical personnel of all categories shall be allowed to carry out their duties.
“If new hospitals are set up in occupied territory and if the competent organs of the occupied State are not operating there, the occupying authorities shall, if necessary, grant them the recognition provided for in Article 18. In similar circumstances, the occupying authorities shall also grant recognition to hospital personnel and transport vehicles under the provisions of Articles 20 and 21.
“In adopting measures of health and hygiene and in their implementation, the Occupying Power shall take into consideration the moral and ethical susceptibilities of the population of the occupied territory.”
But it seems that none of this applies to Israel, according to the UN.
UN chief urges Israel, Turkey to improve ties
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Turkey and Israel on Saturday to improve their relationship and accept the recommendations of a UN report into the deaths of nine Turkis in Israeli attack on a Gaza-bound ship.
Relations between Turkey and Israel have deteriorated since the UN report was made public on Thursday. Turkey has expelled Israel's ambassador and frozen military cooperation after the report failed to prompt an apology from Israel.
Ban said strong ties between Turkey and Israel, which both share a border with Syria, were important for the Middle East and the future of the Middle East peace process.
"I sincerely hope that Israel and Turkey will improve their relationship," Ban told reporters in Canberra after talks with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
"Both countries are very important countries in the region. Their improved relationship, normal relationship, will be very important in addressing all the situations in the Middle East, including the Middle East peace process.
Ban said he would make no comment on the specifics of the report, written by a panel headed by former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer.
"My only wish is that they should try to improve their relationship and do whatever they can to implement the recommendations and findings of this panel's report," he said.
The report found Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip was legal, but that Israel used unreasonable force when its commandos raided the ship, despite meeting strong resistance from those on board.
The rift between Turkey and Israel comes despite US efforts to encourage a rapprochement between two regional powers whose cooperation it needs to address changes sweeping the Middle East.
Ban is in Australia on his way to the Pacific island nations of Solomon Islands and Kiribati. He will also attend a meeting of Pacific Islands leaders in New Zealand, where he will discuss the threats of climate change.
Palestinian factions back Turkey for expelling Israel envoy
Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip have welcomed the Turkish decision to expel Israeli diplomats from Ankara after a critical UN report about Israel's raid on the 2010 freedom flotilla.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri welcomed Turkey's decision to expel the ambassador. He said the decision was a normal reaction after Israel's "crime against the freedom flotilla and Israel’s refusal to lift the siege on Gaza."
The Popular Resistance Committees has also welcomed the decision and its spokesman praised Turkish positions "which are always in support of Palestinian rights."
The Ansar Al-Mujahedeen movement, another Gaza-based group, praised Turkey and its people’s position in support of Palestine and called on Turkey to end all relations with Israel.
The movement called on Islamic countries to take similar steps.
"Our wishes are like those of the UN secretary general who said that this dispute between Israel and Turkey must be resolved through dialogue and mutual understanding, not via other means," Juppe told reporters at an informal EU foreign ministers meeting in the Polish Baltic Sea port of Sopot.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon appealed Saturday for Turkey and Israel to make up after Ankara took retaliatory measures over Tel Aviv's May 2010 raid on a Gaza-bound Turkish flotilla which left eight Turks dead.
"The German government is very worried by the recent dispute between Turkey and Israel," Westerwelle said at a separate press conference in Sopot Saturday, urging "all parties" to seek a solution.
Their words were a message sent loud and clear to Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who was pressing his country's bid to join the EU at the Sopot meeting Saturday.
Davutoglu, who attended the EU talks on Saturday morning as Turkey is a candidate for membership of the bloc, refused all comment on the incident as well as contact with the international press.
"I don't give statements on the way", he told AFP as he headed for the airport.
Israel on Friday reiterated its refusal to apologize to Ankara for the raid. Meanwhile, NATO member Turkey suspended bilateral military ties with Israel and expelled Israeli ambassador Gaby Levy.
The Turkish measures came after a leaked copy of the UN-mandated report criticized Israeli troops for using "excessive" and "unreasonable" force when boarding the ferry Mavi Marmara in international waters on May 31, 2010, leading to the deaths of nine people.
Turkey vows legal action against Israel
Turkey says it will seek legal action against the Israeli regime for its deadly raid on a Gaza-bound relief aid Flotilla last year after Ankara further downgraded its ties with Tel Aviv.
"Turkey will take legal actions against the Israeli soldiers and all other officials responsible for the crimes committed and pursue the matter resolutely," Turkey's embassy in Washington said in a statement, Reuters reported.
The threat came after a UN report said that Israel had used unreasonable force in its raid on the Gaza-bound aid flotilla in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea in May 2010, during which nine Turkish activities were killed.
The report also described Israel's naval blockade on Gaza, which has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the impoverished territory, as 'legal.'
One day after the UN report was leaked to The New York Times, Ankara suspended all its military ties with Tel Aviv and has expelled Israel's envoy from Ankara over the regime's refusal to apologize for the attack on the Gaza-bound flotilla.
"Turkey also reaffirms that relations between Turkey and Israel will not normalize as long as Israel does not apologize and refuses to pay compensation for what it has done," said Ankara's embassy in Washington in a statement.
Turkey's President Abduallah Gul also said that expulsion of the Israeli envoy is just the first step in many possible measures taken against Israel if it persists in its refusal to apologize.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon on Saturday expressed his optimism that the two former allies could mend ties.
"I sincerely hope that Israel and Turkey will improve their relationship," Ban told reporters in the Australian capital, Canberra.
"Normal relationship will be very important in addressing all the situations in the Middle East, including the Middle East peace process," he said.
Observers believe Ban's statement and the recent UN report that legitimizes Israel's brutal siege of Gaza and its attack on a relief aid convoy reflect Tel Aviv's undue influence on the world body.
UN allows Israel to get away with murder
The long-awaited United Nations inquiry into Israel’s attack on the Mavi Marmara, the flagship of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, on May 31, 2010 has ruled that Israel’s naval blockade of the Gaza Strip is both legal and appropriate.
The UN-mandated inquiry also ruled that Israel’s action, in which nine Turkish citizens were killed, was “excessive” but not a violation of international law and has held both Israel and the Gaza Freedom Flotilla activists responsible for the violence.
This is a miscarriage of justice.
According to the UN investigators, the occupied and the occupiers are now the same and there’s no difference between the killers and the killed.
Israel and some other privileged countries are allowed to flout intentional law.
For example, the Israelis have been allowed to steal a people’s homeland, build homes and farms there, and confine 1.6 million people in a 360-square-kilometer coastal territory. They have also been allowed to make life a living hell for the Palestinians by besieging them from three sides and coercing former Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak to do the same on the fourth side of the Gaza Strip.
But according to the UN, all this is “legal and appropriate” since the oppressors are given certain privileges by the Western powers and the oppressed are just characters from Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables.
And the Palestinians cannot get even the simplest condemnation of the Zionist regime from the UN, even if it launches a full-scale military assault on the people of Gaza, kills over 1400 civilians, and destroys schools, hospitals, mosques, and the infrastructure of the territory.
UN panels do not regard this as a violation of international law and specifically the Geneva Conventions, which clearly state that the occupier is responsible for providing the basic necessities of life to the people of the occupied territory.
According to the Fourth Geneva Convention, the occupier is bound to “ensure the food and medical supplies of the population” as well as “agree to relief schemes on behalf of the… population” and maintain “public health and hygiene.”
Articles 55 and 56 of the Fourth Geneva Convention are related to the protection of civilians in time of war.
Article 55 says: “To the fullest extent of the means available to it the Occupying Power has the duty of ensuring the food and medical supplies of the population; it should, in particular, bring in the necessary foodstuffs, medical stores and other articles if the resources of the occupied territory are inadequate.
“The Occupying Power may not requisition foodstuffs, articles or medical supplies available in the occupied territory, except for use by the occupation forces and administration personnel, and then only if the requirements of the civilian population have been taken into account. Subject to the provisions of other international Conventions, the Occupying Power shall make arrangements to ensure that fair value is paid for any requisitioned goods.
“The Protecting Power shall, at any time, be at liberty to verify the state of the food and medical supplies in occupied territories, except where temporary restrictions are made necessary by imperative military requirements.”
Article 56 states: “To the fullest extent of the means available to it, the Occupying Power has the duty of ensuring and maintaining, with the cooperation of national and local authorities, the medical and hospital establishments and services, public health and hygiene in the occupied territory, with particular reference to the adoption and application of the prophylactic and preventive measures necessary to combat the spread of contagious diseases and epidemics. Medical personnel of all categories shall be allowed to carry out their duties.
“If new hospitals are set up in occupied territory and if the competent organs of the occupied State are not operating there, the occupying authorities shall, if necessary, grant them the recognition provided for in Article 18. In similar circumstances, the occupying authorities shall also grant recognition to hospital personnel and transport vehicles under the provisions of Articles 20 and 21.
“In adopting measures of health and hygiene and in their implementation, the Occupying Power shall take into consideration the moral and ethical susceptibilities of the population of the occupied territory.”
But it seems that none of this applies to Israel, according to the UN.
UN chief urges Israel, Turkey to improve ties
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Turkey and Israel on Saturday to improve their relationship and accept the recommendations of a UN report into the deaths of nine Turkis in Israeli attack on a Gaza-bound ship.
Relations between Turkey and Israel have deteriorated since the UN report was made public on Thursday. Turkey has expelled Israel's ambassador and frozen military cooperation after the report failed to prompt an apology from Israel.
Ban said strong ties between Turkey and Israel, which both share a border with Syria, were important for the Middle East and the future of the Middle East peace process.
"I sincerely hope that Israel and Turkey will improve their relationship," Ban told reporters in Canberra after talks with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
"Both countries are very important countries in the region. Their improved relationship, normal relationship, will be very important in addressing all the situations in the Middle East, including the Middle East peace process.
Ban said he would make no comment on the specifics of the report, written by a panel headed by former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer.
"My only wish is that they should try to improve their relationship and do whatever they can to implement the recommendations and findings of this panel's report," he said.
The report found Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip was legal, but that Israel used unreasonable force when its commandos raided the ship, despite meeting strong resistance from those on board.
The rift between Turkey and Israel comes despite US efforts to encourage a rapprochement between two regional powers whose cooperation it needs to address changes sweeping the Middle East.
Ban is in Australia on his way to the Pacific island nations of Solomon Islands and Kiribati. He will also attend a meeting of Pacific Islands leaders in New Zealand, where he will discuss the threats of climate change.
Palestinian factions back Turkey for expelling Israel envoy
Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip have welcomed the Turkish decision to expel Israeli diplomats from Ankara after a critical UN report about Israel's raid on the 2010 freedom flotilla.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri welcomed Turkey's decision to expel the ambassador. He said the decision was a normal reaction after Israel's "crime against the freedom flotilla and Israel’s refusal to lift the siege on Gaza."
The Popular Resistance Committees has also welcomed the decision and its spokesman praised Turkish positions "which are always in support of Palestinian rights."
The Ansar Al-Mujahedeen movement, another Gaza-based group, praised Turkey and its people’s position in support of Palestine and called on Turkey to end all relations with Israel.
The movement called on Islamic countries to take similar steps.
2 sept 2011
Turkey expels Israel envoy after Gaza flotilla report, freezes military ties
Turkish FM Ahmet Davutoğlu, Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and PM Benjamin Netanyahu
Speaking to reporters, Turkish FM says Anakra disagrees with Palmer Commission report's support of Israel's blockade of Gaza, intends to aid Turkish families of Gaza flotilla raid to file suit against Israel.
Turkey has decided to downgrade its diplomatic ties with Israel to the lowest possible level, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Friday, following Israel's continued refusal to apologize for a 2010 raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.
The findings of a UN probe into Israel's deadly raid on a 2010 flotilla to Gaza known as the Palmer Commission Report, which were leaked to The New York Times Thursday, have further raised tensions between Israel and Turkey, and senior Foreign Ministry officials warned that Turkey could respond to the report's publication by expelling the Israeli ambassador and scaling back diplomatic relations.
Speaking to reporters, Turkish FM says Anakra disagrees with Palmer Commission report's support of Israel's blockade of Gaza, intends to aid Turkish families of Gaza flotilla raid to file suit against Israel.
Turkey has decided to downgrade its diplomatic ties with Israel to the lowest possible level, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Friday, following Israel's continued refusal to apologize for a 2010 raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.
The findings of a UN probe into Israel's deadly raid on a 2010 flotilla to Gaza known as the Palmer Commission Report, which were leaked to The New York Times Thursday, have further raised tensions between Israel and Turkey, and senior Foreign Ministry officials warned that Turkey could respond to the report's publication by expelling the Israeli ambassador and scaling back diplomatic relations.
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Speaking to reporters on Friday, Davutoglu announced the downscale of diplomatic relations with Jerusalem, saying the move was a direct response to Israel's refusal to apologize for the deaths of nine Turkish nationals in the May 2010 raid.
The implications of the downgrade are that the level of diplomatic representation in both countries will be scaled back from ambassador to first secretary. |
This means Israel's ambassador to Turkey, Gabby Levy, and his deputy, Ella Afek, will be expelled.
A statement by the Turkish Foreign Ministry, published minutes following Davutoglu's press conference, indicated that Turkish and Israeli diplomats due to leave their respective posts as a result of the downgrade will do so by September 7.
"Israel squandered all of the opportunities to end the crisis, and now it must pay for it," Davutoglu said, adding that Turkey's official position was that Israel's blockade on the Gaza Strip was illegal, despite the fact that the UN report supported its legality.
Hinting at the possible consequences of Turkey's disagreement with the UN's interpretation of Israel's blockade, the Turkish FM said that Ankara would "do whatever it takes to implement its interpretation of the significance of international waters in the Mediterranean."
"We cannot accept the blockade on Gaza. We cannot say that the blockade aligns with international law," he said, adding that the stance taken by the Palmer Commission Report was the author's "personal opinion, one which does not correspond with Turkey's position."
Additionally, Davutoglu announced the cancellation of all defense contracts between Israel and Turkey, adding that Ankara would both initiaite legal action against the Gaza blockade in international courts, as well as aid families of those killed in the Gaza flotilla raid in seeking litigation against Israel.
Warning of the possible consequences of Israel's refusal to apologize for the flotilla raid, Davutoglu said on Thursday that Friday's official release of the Palmer Report constituted Israel's last chance to apologize for its raid on the Turkish-sponsored flotilla and warned of consequences, including sanctions, should Israel continue to refuse to apologize.
Unless there is an Israeli apology, "we will put Plan B into play," Davutoglu said. He said Turkey intended to impose sanctions, "which both Israel and other international parties are aware of."
Referring to Israel's request for another delay in the report's publication, he said that Ankara "cannot accept another six-month extension."
Senior Israeli officials said Thursday that Israel would not apologize for the raid and that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had reiterated this to the U.S. administration in the past few days.
Turkey is also planning a diplomatic and legal campaign against Israel in the United Nations, and will help the families of those killed and injured in the raid to file lawsuits against Israel in courts worldwide.
In addition, Ankara is threatening to halt trade between Turkey and Israel, which totals billions of dollars.
A statement by the Turkish Foreign Ministry, published minutes following Davutoglu's press conference, indicated that Turkish and Israeli diplomats due to leave their respective posts as a result of the downgrade will do so by September 7.
"Israel squandered all of the opportunities to end the crisis, and now it must pay for it," Davutoglu said, adding that Turkey's official position was that Israel's blockade on the Gaza Strip was illegal, despite the fact that the UN report supported its legality.
Hinting at the possible consequences of Turkey's disagreement with the UN's interpretation of Israel's blockade, the Turkish FM said that Ankara would "do whatever it takes to implement its interpretation of the significance of international waters in the Mediterranean."
"We cannot accept the blockade on Gaza. We cannot say that the blockade aligns with international law," he said, adding that the stance taken by the Palmer Commission Report was the author's "personal opinion, one which does not correspond with Turkey's position."
Additionally, Davutoglu announced the cancellation of all defense contracts between Israel and Turkey, adding that Ankara would both initiaite legal action against the Gaza blockade in international courts, as well as aid families of those killed in the Gaza flotilla raid in seeking litigation against Israel.
Warning of the possible consequences of Israel's refusal to apologize for the flotilla raid, Davutoglu said on Thursday that Friday's official release of the Palmer Report constituted Israel's last chance to apologize for its raid on the Turkish-sponsored flotilla and warned of consequences, including sanctions, should Israel continue to refuse to apologize.
Unless there is an Israeli apology, "we will put Plan B into play," Davutoglu said. He said Turkey intended to impose sanctions, "which both Israel and other international parties are aware of."
Referring to Israel's request for another delay in the report's publication, he said that Ankara "cannot accept another six-month extension."
Senior Israeli officials said Thursday that Israel would not apologize for the raid and that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had reiterated this to the U.S. administration in the past few days.
Turkey is also planning a diplomatic and legal campaign against Israel in the United Nations, and will help the families of those killed and injured in the raid to file lawsuits against Israel in courts worldwide.
In addition, Ankara is threatening to halt trade between Turkey and Israel, which totals billions of dollars.