Erdogan: Israel-Turkey relations may never be normal again

Turkish PM reiterates demand for Israel to apologize and pay compensation for the 2010 flotilla raid as well as lift the blockade of the Gaza Strip.

By Reuters

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned on Saturday that relations with Israel may “never be normal again” as tensions continue to rise after Israel refused to apologize over a raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla last year in which Israel Defense Forces soldiers killed nine Turkish citizen.

"We gave our warnings to Israel. This is the reason for war. This is something you cannot do in international waters. But as a great state, we have been very forgiving. That's why we have been very patient,” Erdogan said in an interview on CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS" to be aired on Sunday.

Turkey has demanded that Israel apologize, pay compensation and lift the Gaza embargo.

"If these demands are not met, the relations between Turkey and Israel will never become normal again. We have got nothing against the people of Israel but against the attitude adopted by the administration of Israel," Erdogan said.

He continued, saying “if you are insistent on creating a source of unrest, you are bound to become lonelier and lonelier. They used to be great friends of ours. And this solitude is Israel's fate under these circumstances."


remainder: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/erdogan-israel-turkey-relations-may-never-be-normal-again-1.386518