By JTA.org
Israel will hold fast to its decision not to apologize to Turkey for its raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla ship, despite a direct request from the United States, Israeli officials reportedly said.
Israeli media are citing unnamed Israeli officials as saying that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu turned down an Obama administration request to apologize to Turkey for the deaths of nine Turkish citizens, including one Turkish-American citizen, in a Navy commando raid on the Mavi Marmara in May 2010, during a telephone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The findings of a United Nations inquiry into the incident are expected to be made public early next week.
The Palmer report, whose publication was delayed by several weeks in order to give Turkey and Israel more time to reconcile, is reported – according to advance copies given to the two countries – to vindicate Israel for blockading the Gaza Strip.
Turkey has said it will not reconcile with Israel until Israel offers a formal apology and compensates the families of the victims. Israel so far has offered its “regret.”
Meanwhile, Ynet reported that Jerusalem is concerned that Turkey will not approve Israel’s new ambassador to the country, who is scheduled to arrive in Ankara shortly after the release of the Palmer report.
Current Ambassador Gabby Levy‘s term is scheduled to end in two weeks. Levy had been asked to extend his term for a second time, which does not require Turkey’s approval, according to Ynet, but he refused.
Turkey withdrew its ambassador shortly after the flotilla incident.
Relations between Israel and Turkey had begun to deteriorate even before the flotilla incident, beginning with the one-month Gaza war that began in December 2008.
BIBI FOR ONCE DID THE RIGHT THING HE STOOD UP AND SAID WHAT HE SHOULD HAVE SAID YEARS AGO!!!!!!! ISRAEL DOES NOT NEED TO APOLOGIZE!!!!!!!! KUDOS TO BIBI
I really don’t understand how America could act like this! We do not have to apologize for anything! ANYTHING! Turkey should be the ones apologizing…
“Vindicate Israel”?? never thought I’d here that from a UN report! Must be a typo………….
Maybe Mrs. Clintion would like to apologize to Pakistan for vilolating their soveriegnty and taking out OBL.
I THOUGHT AGGRESSORS ARE SUPPOSED TO APOLOGIZE.
OHH, BUT IT IS ISRAEL – IT’S OUR FAULT FOR EXISTING!
OHHH.
Israel always goes it alone. So now also. Only hashem can help us. Stick to your decision and do not apologize for protecting your people
NOW JUST WHO IS THE BIGGER IDIOT AND THE MOST NAIVE, HILARY OR BILL.??????
KOL HAKOVOD TO BIBI FOR (FINALLY) STANDING UP FOR HIS OWN COUNTRY AGAINST AN AMERICAN SO CALLED PRESIDENT THAT HAS SHOWN TIME AND AGAIN HOW MUCH HE LOVES THE ARABS AND MUSLIMS AND HATES ISRAEL AND ITS JEWS. WHEN WE STAND PROUD AND STRONG HASHEM FIGHTS OUR BATTLES FOR US – AS IT SAYS IN THIS WEEKS PARSHA. MAY BIBI BE JUST AS STRONG IN NOT GIVING UP ANY LAND TO THE GANGSTERS! AND HE WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS A TRUE LEADER!
this is what we have here. either she is an anti semite, which is weird because she has a jewish son in law. OR she is just suffering from goy-itis and therefore just does not understand the needs and reality (etc) of the Jews. GREAT that Netanyahu stood for whats Emes.
aggressors should be the ones applolgizing
For not letting the guns reach Hamas in time for a huge slaughter? Screw you Turkey. Screw your friends Turkey. If you don’t join the democracy then you’re dancing on Hamas party.
go israel!!!! Stay strong!!! We say NO!
WHO CARES ‘MA YOMRU HAGOYIM’ IT’S ABOUT TIME ISRAEL KNOWS THAT IT HAS NO FRIENDS EXCEPT G-D.
BE STRONG AND DO WHAT’S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ISRAEL AND EVERYONE WILL SLEEP BETTER!!!!!!!!!
We won’t appologise for other nations’ acts of aggression.