Turkey boots Israeli ambassador over flotilla raid
Deadly raid soured Israeli-Turkish relations
CBC News
Posted: Sep 2, 2011 7:02 AM ET
Last Updated: Sep 2, 2011 12:42 PM ET
Turkey is throwing the Israeli ambassador out of the country and cutting military ties over Israel's refusal to apologize for a deadly May 2010 raid on a flotilla of ships bound for Gaza.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Friday that diplomatic ties are being downgraded, and all military ties between the two countries are suspended.
Reuters reported that the Israeli ambassador, Gabby Levy, is currently in Israel and cancelled plans to return to Turkey.
The report of the four-member panel called on Israel to issue an "appropriate statement of regret" and to offer payment for the benefit of the deceased and injured victims and their families.
"To be frank, the report is null and void for us," said Turkish President Abdullah Gul, when he was asked to comment on the fact the report does not include a specific request for an Israeli apology.
Israeli officials, who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity, reiterated Israel's position that no apology would be issued.
"As recommended in the report, Israel again expresses its regret for the loss of life, but it will never apologize for the self-defense acts of its soldiers. Israel, like any other country, has the legitimate right to defend its citizens and its soldiers," the the Israeli officials said in a statement.
Turkey's actions came a day after the leak of a United Nations report which found that the Israeli military used excessive force during the attack on the flotilla, which was trying to break Israel's blockade of Gaza. The report also says the blockade itself is legal.
The raid attracted international condemnation, and led to the diplomatic dispute between Israel and Turkey.
During the raid, Israeli commandoes rapelled from helicopters to board the Mavi Marmara, the largest of the ships headed for Gaza. Intense fighting broke out between the Israeli soldiers and activists onboard. In the end, nine activists eight Turks and a Turkish-American were killed.
The 105-page UN report, which was expected to be officially released Friday but was leaked to the New York Times a day early, says that while the Israelis used excessive and unreasonable force, they had little choice but to defend themselves from an organized group of violent passengers.
The report was completed months ago, but was delayed as Israel and Turkey sought to negotiate a resolution. Turkey wanted a formal apology and had set Friday as a deadline for Israel to do so, but Israel has said to apologize would be demoralizing.
Supportive of blockade
The New York Times said the report takes a generally supportive view of Israel's blockade of Gaza.
Israel faces a real threat to its security from militant groups in Gaza, the newspaper quoted from the leaked report's opening paragraphs. 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.
However, the report was critical of Israel's actions in the raid on the flotilla. It said Israel should have issued more warnings before taking action, and used non-violent methods first.
The report was also critical of the manner in which the nine activists died.
Forensic evidence showing that most of the deceased were shot multiple times, including in the back, or at close range has not been adequately accounted for in the material presented by Israel, the Times quoted from the report.
The UN report also singled out the activists in the flotilla, saying they were entitled to express their views but that they had acted "recklessly in attempting to breach the naval blockade."
"The majority of the flotilla participants had no violent intentions, but there exist serious questions about the conduct, true nature and objectives of the flotilla organizers, particularly IHH [the humanitarian group that was the leading organization behind the flotilla]. The actions of the flotilla needlessly carried the potential for escalation."