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Turkey expels Israel ambassador over flotilla raid

Middle East News

02-09-2011 | 12:01

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Turkey expels Israel ambassador over flotilla raid

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Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Turkey expelled Israel’s ambassador and that the government was cutting military ties and downgrading diplomatic ties with Israel to the level of second secretary over its refusal to apologize for last year's raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla that killed nine people.

"Turkey does not recognize Israel's embargo on Gaza," Davutoglu said, adding that Turkey would take steps to have the International Court of Justice and the United Nations to look into its legality.

"As long as the Israeli government does not take the necessary steps, there will be no turning back," the minister said.

Turkey has made an Israeli apology a condition for improving diplomatic ties. However, Israel repeatedly refused to apologize since “the report does not demand an Israeli apology”, according to Israeli officials who established instead that Israel should express regret and pay reparations.

Nine pro-Palestinian activists were killed aboard the Turkish-flagged ship Mavi Marmara on May 31, 2010, after passengers resisted a takeover by Israeli naval commandos. The flotilla was en route to Gaza in an attempt to bring international attention to Israel's blockade of the Palestinian territory. Each side blamed the other, claiming self-defense. The fatalities included eight Turkish nationals and one Turkish-American activist.

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