Ankara: Turkey wants an apology from Israel for the killing of eight Turks and one Turkish-American, in order to improve strained ties.
The Hurriyet Daily News quotes Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu as saying that if Israel does not apologise and offer compensation to the families of the victims “then the ties will never be repaired.”
Davutoglu said Sunday while returning from Kyrgyzstan: “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.”
He had officially laid out the conditions for improved ties with Israel during a secret meeting with the Israeli industry minister last week.
However, Israel will never apologise for defending itself, a senior government official said on Monday.
"Israel will never apologise for defending its citizens," the official told AFP.
"Of course, we regret the loss of life but it was not the Israeli side that initiated the violence.”
Other Israeli officials reacted angrily to Turkey’s threats.
“When you want an apology, you don’t use threats or ultimatums,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Yigal Palmor said.
“Everything leads us to believe that Turkey has another agenda in mind,” he added, without giving further details.
The Minister also said Turkey had closed its airspace to all Israeli military flights in reaction to the raid.
