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Israel says no apology to Turkey for Mavi Marmara incident

17 August 2011 14:05 (UTC +04:00)

The decision, which the official said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conveyed to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a telephone call, was made days before the publication of the findings of a U.N. inquiry into the seizure of the Mavi Marmara last year. The so-called Palmer report was repeatedly delayed to allow Israel and Turkey to try to mend fences amid concern in Washington at the dispute between two countries that had been strategic partners in the Middle East. Israeli officials, citing advance copies of the report, have said it would vindicate Israel’s blockade on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. Turkey, which like Israel had a delegate on the U.N. panel, has said it would not accept such a finding. The Mavi Marmara was part of a flotilla of vessels bringing humanitarian aid to Israeli-blockaded Gaza when it was boarded by Israeli marines in international waters on May 31, 2010. Nine Turks, including a dual U.S. citizen, were killed in brawls aboard the ship. Netanyahu later voiced "regret" over the killings. But Turkey insisted on a formal apology and compensation for those bereaved and injured, which Israel initially rejected outright as tantamount to admitting it was morally and legally culpable.
The United Nations has said it expects to release the Palmer report this month. Israeli officials gave August 22 as the publication date.

Defence Minister Ehud Barak and some other members of Netanyahu’s conservative coalition government have since proposed offering Turkey a diluted apology in hope of restoring ties with the Jewish state’s former ally, until then one of its closest in the Muslim world.
"We’re firm on not apologizing," the Israeli official said.
Asked if Israel might change tack after the Palmer report’s publication, the official said: "Why would we do that? We know the report supports our position."
The U.S. and Turkish embassies had no immediate comment.
In arguing for accommodating the Turks, Barak had said this would help indemnify Israel’s navy personnel against lawsuits abroad. The Palmer report would contain some criticism of Israeli tactics aboard the Mavi Marmara, Barak said.
His most vocal opponent has been Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who noted that Ankara’s Islamist-rooted government also demands an end to the Gaza blockade, deeming it illegal.
Israel calls the measure a precaution against arms reaching Hamas and other Palestinian guerrillas by sea. Palestinians describe the blockade as collective punishment.
The United Nations has said it expects to release the Palmer report this month. Israeli officials gave August 22 as the publication date.