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Turkey’s President says future of relations with Israel is up to Israeli government

09 November 2010 03:13 (UTC +04:00)

After giving a lecture at Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London, Gul answered questions.

On Turkey’s relations with Israel, Gul said that current situation of relations was not a result of Turkey’s decision or will.

Israeli commandos stormed an aid convoy on May 31, killing eight Turks and a Turkish-U.S. citizen as the raid strained relations between the two countries. United Nations launched a probe into the incident, setting up a four-member panel, which is expected to present its final report to the UN chief February next year. The Geneva-based U.N. Human Rights Council issued a report in September on the raid, saying Israel violated international law both by attacking the aid ships and by enforcing a blockade of the Gaza Strip.

Abdullah Gul said the issue was a matter of the international law.

"There are things that have to be done under the international law. Israeli government would of course assess it. Israeli government would do whatever necessary if it valued the importance Turkey attached to Israel in the past. I am talking about doing whatever necessary under the law, not making concessions. In fact, the future of our relations is completely up to Israel," Gul said.

Turkey is the only Muslim country in the region to recognize Israel as a state since its foundation, Gul recalled, adding that senior government officials of the two countries had paid visits to each other in the past.

"Both I and Mr. Prime Minister [Recep Tayyip Erdogan] and his ministers have been to Israel many times. We have did a lot to improve Turkish-Israeli relations. I invited Israeli President, after he was elected, and Palestinian President to Turkey and gave them the chance to address our parliament. I wonder if Israeli President could or has ever addressed a parliament of a Muslim country other than Turkey?" Gul said.