Turkey threatens to cut ties with Israel

ISTANBUL - Turkey’s foreign minister has warned that diplomatic ties with Israel will be cut in the wake of the recent flotilla crisis unless certain conditions are met, the Turkish press reported Monday.

“The Israelis have three options: They will either apologise or acknowledge an international-impartial inquiry and its conclusion. Otherwise, our diplomatic ties will be cut off,” Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters Saturday during a visit to Kyrgyzstan.

The once-close Turkish-Israeli relationship has taken a steep nose dive following a tragically botched May 31 Israeli commando raid on a Gaza aid flotilla led by a Turkish non-governmental organisation. Nine Turks were killed in the attack.

Turkey recalled its ambassador to Israel after the raid. It has also closed its airspace to Israeli military aircraft in response to the incident.

Turkey has previously stated its demands that before relations are normalised Israel must apologise, pay compensation to the victims and allow for an international inquiry into the event.

Israel has so far refused to meet those demands. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week said his country would not apologise or pay compensation to the flotilla victims.

Israel has meanwhile set up its own inquiry, headed by a former Supreme Court justice.

“We showed them an exit road. If they apologise as a result of their own investigation’s conclusion, that would be fine for us. But of course we first have to see it,” Davutoglu said.

“They are aware of our demands. If they do not want to apologise, then they should accept an international investigation,” he added.

Davutoglu also suggested that Turkey could impose further sanctions against Israel should it fail to meet Turkey’s conditions.

“If steps are not taken, the process of isolation will continue,” he said.