Israel Matzav

'An issue between friends'?

Washington-based Turkish diplomatic sources have informed reporters concerning the content of talks held by a Foreign Ministry delegation led by Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioğlu with several senior US officials from the departments of state, defense and commerce.

The Mavi Marmara incident was an experience between “two friends,” Anatolia news agency quoted the diplomatic sources as saying while explaining what Turkish officials told US officials regarding the tension between Turkey and Israel. The sources were referring to an incident in which Israeli commandos tried to prevent activists from breaking the blockade of Gaza and killed eight Turks and one Turkish-American during a raid on one of the flotilla's six vessels, named Mavi Marmara and owned by a Turkish charity.

It was the first time that Israel had experienced such an incident with a country it had friendly relations with, the same sources noted, adding that this is why the impact of the Mavi Marmara incident has been all the more shocking.

The said incident had nothing to do with Turkey’s relations with the Israeli state or with the Jewish people, but rather was an issue with the Israeli government, they explained.

Israel has said the soldiers acted in self-defense after being attacked as they boarded the Mavi Marmara. Turkey, on the other hand, is demanding an apology from Israel and compensation for the families of the victims.

If Israel had consented to Turkey’s demands for an apology and compensation, things would have begun to go well sooner, yet Israel hasn’t chosen this route, the sources added.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 5:22 PM