Turkish warning to Israel: Apologize, compensate victims, lift Gaza blockade

In an interview, Gul said the Israeli attack at the end of May, which killed nine activists, was a “crime” which might have been carried out by the likes of al Qaeda rather than a sovereign state.

“It seems impossible to me to forgive or forget, unless there are some initiatives which could change the situation,” Gul was quoted as saying by Le Monde.

Asked what these might be, he said: “Firstly, to ask pardon and to establish some sort of compensation.” He added that he also wanted to see an independent inquiry into the botched raid and a discussion on lifting Israel’s blockade of Gaza.

Asked if Turkey might break relations with Israel if they did nothing, Gul said: “Anything is possible.”

Once a close ally of Israel, Turkey recalled its ambassador following the incident, cancelled joint military exercises and trade and defence deals worth billions of dollars would be reduced to a minimum.


Turkey to Turkistan: Back to the Future

For years, Turkey had done what was expected from it to get accepted in the European community. It recognised Israel in 1949, the first Muslim majority state to do so, and had an extensive air force accord with the Jewish state.
Now, the Israeli assault on the Turkish-led humanitarian aid flotilla to breach the Gaza blockade has been a game-changer. By doing so, Israel has helped create for itself a foe that may prove more deadly than Hamas and Hezbollah.

In the words of President Abdullah Gul of Turkey: “Israel has made one of its greatest mistakes in history – a mistake it will regret.” Israel’s action have made Israel a “strategic liability” to the US.

By taunting Turkey and violating Turkish honour, Israel may have pushed Turkey back into the Muslim fold, after nearly 100 years in the twilight zone between the West and the East, all because of arrogant over-stepping. By doing so, it may have awakened the long-hibernating Ottoman lion. Over-stepping on Turkey.