Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Turkey Threatens to Cut Ties With Israel

   VOA News 05 July 2010

Photo: Yildiz Yazicioglu

   Turkish  Foreign  Minister Ahmed Davutoglu leaves the State Department
   in Washington, following talks with U.S. officials in the aftermath of
   an Israeli raid on aid convoy in eastern Mediterranean Sea

   Turkey's  foreign  minister  says his country will cut diplomatic ties
   with  Israel  if  it  does  not  apologize  for the commando raid on a
   Gaza-bound    aid   flotilla   that   killed   eight   Turks   and   a
   Turkish-American.

   In  an  interview  published Monday in the Hurriyet newspaper, Foreign
   Minister  Ahmet  Davutoglu  said  relations with Israel will be broken
   unless  Israel  apologizes  or  agrees to accept the conclusions of an
   international inquiry into the May 31 attack.

   But  on  Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel
   will not apologize for the raid.

   In  comments  to  Israeli  state television (Channel 1), Mr. Netanyahu
   said  Israel  regrets  the  loss  of  life  in the raid, but it cannot
   apologize  that  its  soldiers had to defend themselves to avoid being
   "lynched."

   Mr.  Netanyahu  also  rejected  the  notion  that Israel would pay any
   compensation to Turkey for the nine Turkish citizens killed.

   Israeli  commandos  boarded the Turkish-owned Mavi Marmara ship, which
   was leading a flotilla trying to break an Israeli blockade and deliver
   aid  to  the  Gaza Strip. Israel has said its commandos opened fire on
   the ship after being attacked.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.

.