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.


    July 23, 2011

Turkey Says No Normalizing Israeli Ties Without Apology

   VOA News
   Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (file photo)
   Photo: AP
   Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (file photo)

   Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Turkey will not
   normalize relations with Israel until Israel apologized for its deadly
   raid on a flotilla bound for the blockaded Gaza Strip last year.
   Erdogan said Saturday Israel also should pay compensation to the
   families of the Turkish victims killed in the raid and lift the
   blockade on Gaza.
   The prime minister was speaking at a meeting of Palestinian ambassadors
   in Istanbul. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is attending the
   meeting.
   Relations between Israel and Turkey were severely strained last year
   when Israeli commandos raided a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, killing nine
   Turkish activists.
   Israel says its marines acted in self-defense after activists with
   clubs and knives attacked an initial boarding party. Israel has
   justified its blockade of Gaza by saying it is aimed at stopping arms
   from reaching Hamas, the Islamist militant party that controls the
   area.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.
   Follow our Middle East reports on [1]Twitter
   and discuss them on our [2]Facebook page.

References

   1. http://twitter.com/VOAMidEast
   2. http://www.facebook.com/pages/VOAMiddleEastVoices/124360240958667?%20%20%20%20v=wall

.