Relations between Israel and her former ally continue to go downhill:
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Friday Israel’s diplomatic presence in Turkey was being cut to second secretary level, effectively expelling Israeli diplomats after details emerged of the Palmer Report which dealt with the IDF raid on the Gaza-bound Mavi Marmara ship.
“Turkey-Israel diplomatic relations have been reduced to a second secretary level. All personnel above the second secretary level will return to their countries by Wednesday at the latest,” Davutoglu told a news conference.
Davutoglu said that Turkey was also suspending military agreements after he said that some of the report’s findings were unacceptable.
The Palmer Report, commissioned by the U.N., found Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza to be legal, but also concluded, “An appropriate statement of regret should be made by Israel in respect of the incident in light of its consequences” — meaning the loss of life in 2010 when the IDF raided the flotilla ship the Mavi Marmara. The Israeli blogger A Soldier’s Mother tweets, “Palmer report says Israel should issue statement of regret. Ok – we regret Turkey sent violent psychopaths on an illegal Flotilla.”
That sounds like the only statement of regret necessary in this case.
What do you think?
8:04 pm
Mr Davatoglu is merely a puppet for his government. His behaviour reflects his country’s politics. They are running scared but now they have given up becoming Westernized and are becoming terroristic and aligning themselves MORE with Middle Eastern countries.
8:00 pm
It goes to prove that Turkey is not as modern as they try to pretend. They are not ready for the Western world, they lie and are not to be relied on and they are lining up with terrorists of the muslim countries.
10:30 am
So it’s normal for aid ships to carry weapons now? And bad Israeli defense forces can’t shoot back when they are attacked? Give us a break Mr Davutoglu…
7:56 pm
I think that Israel MUST protect itself at all times. It is surrounded by countries that cannot be relied on countries which go BACK on their Word time and time again. The Turkish Government is running scared and joining the other Arab nations who give what? to society? Turks are not ready for the Western world.
9:37 am
Agreed Albert. What part of the UN report was Turkey upset with? Oh it must have been the part that said the Israeli blockade was both LEGAL and APPROPRIATE! Turkey is exercising extreme hypocrisy!
8:12 am
Shame on Turkey for missing this opportunity to admit it’s own regret for this flotilla, of people wanting only to harm Israel, to be launched from Turkey! Turkey continues to decline from being safe
8:06 am
Turkey should be apologizing to Israel. Israel isn’t responsible for the violent actions of the Turkish flotilla
8:32 am
Turkey by dismissing Israel has dismissed GOD! A nation that turns from good to evil is a nation in TROUBLE! Turkey has “chosen” the wrong side. May they awaken to this false premise and come back before it’s too late!
8:35 am
Exactly. We all saw what really happened on the videos. The Turkish government was negligent in not protecting the aid ships from being boarded by subversives to begin with. They should be issuing an apology – unless they want the world to think this was a planned attack by Turkey.