Israeli lawmakers are expected to convene on Wednesday in a parliamentary session to discuss Turkey’s demand for an official apology and compensation for relatives of the victims who were killed in Israel’s raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.
A Knesset committee has agreed over a general discussion of the issue after a proposal by Likud lawmaker Dani Danon who strongly rejected any such move as “giving in to terrorism and motivation for similar future attacks.”
Coalition partner Likud’s Zaev Elkin has also criticized the Israeli cabinet for making no decision on Turkey’s demand and failing to clarify its official position.
Israeli commandos killed last May eight Turks and a U.S.-Turkish citizen in the raid on Mavi Marmara ship, lead vessel of the aid flotilla. Turkey has demanded an apology and compensation for the attack.
Yosef Ciechanover, Israel’s representative on the UN panel investigating the flotilla incident, and Feridun Sinirlioglu, a senior Turkish diplomat met twice last week in Geneva after Turkey sent two fire-fighting planes to help put out Carmel blaze that killed 43 people.
Israel’s top diplomat Avigdor Lieberman and Defense Minister Ehud Barak as well as a number of Israeli politicians and senior military personnel have publicly expressed their opposition to meeting Turkey’s demands.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly said relations with Israel could not go back to normal unless an official apology was made and relatives of the victims were paid redress.
AA