Turkey calls on Israel to accept probe into raid
Turkey's foreign minister yesterday called on Israel to accept an international probe into the raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla that killed nine Turks.
Ahmet Davutoglu said Israel should declare it agrees to the probe proposed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. He said: "Otherwise, it means that they have something to hide."
Israel's ambassador to the US has said Israel rejects the idea.
"The international community is facing a serious test. Does a country have the right to intercept a ship in international waters or not?" Davutoglu said at a news conference with the foreign ministers of Afghanistan and Pakistan. They spoke on the sidelines of a summit of a 20-nation security group.
Turkey, which had a solid alliance with Israel until the three-week Gaza war that ended in early 2009, said it would reduce military and trade ties and shelved discussions of energy projects, including natural gas and fresh water shipments. It threatened to break ties unless Israel apologizes for the raid last week.
"We are evaluating everything. It is up to Israel how our ties will continue," Davutoglu said. "Israel has to accept the consequences of its actions and be held accountable."
Davutoglu said, "normalization of Turkish-Israeli relations was out of the question," unless Israel conforms to international law. He said Turkey would pursue accountability in the killing of its nine citizens until the end.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi condemned the Israeli raid and Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul expressed solidarity with Turkey.
The ministers met on the opening day of a summit on security in Asia. Nine heads of state, including leaders of Iran and Syria, and Russia's prime minister are scheduled to attend the two-day Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, or CICA.
Turkey said Israel, also a member, was invited but not expected to attend.
FOUR GAZAN SHOT
Before dawn Monday, the Israeli navy fired on Palestinian divers off Gaza, and Palestinian medics said they retrieved four bodies. The Israeli military said its forces prevented an attack on Israeli targets, but did not explain further.
ALL ACTIVISTS, CREW DEPORTED
All 19 people on board the Rachel Corrie aid ship which tried to run the Israeli blockade of Gaza, have been deported, an Israeli immigration official told AFP yesterday.
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