05/07/2010 14:19
If Israel fails to heed Turkey's ultimatum, Ankara cuts ties
After talks in Brussels on Wednesday with Israeli Trade Minister Benjamin Ben Eliezerthat, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that Turkey makes conditions which Israel must follow otherwise the “relations between the two countries will be broken.”
"Relations will be broken unless Israel apologises or accepts the conclusions of an international inquiry into the May 31 attack on the aid convoy bound for Gaza,” Davutoglu told Monday's edition of the Hurriyet newspaper.
After the Israeli attack on the international flotilla, with pro-Palestinian activist on board carrying aid to Gaza, resulted in 9 deaths (of these 8 were from Turkey, and one person was an American of Turkish origin) Turkey has recalled its Ambassador from Israel. Turkey also closed its airspace to all Israeli military flights in reaction to the raid. In addition, it cancelled joint Israeli-Turkish military exercises. It strongly demanded for an international investigation into the raid and for lifting Gaza’s blockade.