Turkey threatens to expel Israeli ambassador

Turkey threatens to expel Israeli ambassador
September 2, 2011 - 15:14 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The findings of a UN probe into Israel's deadly raid on a 2010 flotilla to Gaza, which were leaked to The New York Times on Thursday, September 1, have further raised tensions between Israel and Turkey, and senior Foreign Ministry officials warned that Turkey could respond to the report's publication by expelling the Israeli ambassador and scaling back diplomatic relations, Haaretz reported.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Thursday that Friday's official release of the Palmer Report constitutes Israel's last chance to apologize for its raid on the Turkish-sponsored flotilla and warned of consequences, including sanctions, should Israel continue to refuse to apologize.

Unless there is an Israeli apology, "we will put Plan B into play," Davutoglu said, adding that Turkey intended to impose sanctions, "which both Israel and other international parties are aware of." Referring to Israel's request for another delay in the report's publication, he said that Ankara "cannot accept another six-month extension."

Senior Israeli officials said Thursday that Israel would not apologize for the raid and that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had reiterated this to the U.S. administration in the past few days.

The sanctions Turkey is planning against Israel include scaling back the level of diplomatic representation in both countries from ambassador to first secretary. This means Israel's ambassador to Turkey, Gabby Levy, and his deputy, Ella Afek, would be expelled.

Turkey is also planning a diplomatic and legal campaign against Israel in the United Nations, and will help the families of those killed and injured in the raid to file lawsuits against Israel in courts worldwide.

In addition, Ankara is threatening to halt trade between Turkey and Israel, which totals in the billions of dollars.

Davutoglu said Turkey had agreed to delay the report's publication several times because Israel wanted to negotiate over the Turks' demand for an apology. "We patiently waited for Israel to decide. It seems Israel has some difficulty in making a decision," he said.

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