Turkey navy to escort aid ships to Palestinians in Gaza

4 09 2011

From Rense.com

[snip] . . . “The eastern Mediterranean will no longer be a place where Israeli naval forces can freely exercise their bullying practices against civilian vessels,” a Turkish official was quoted as saying.

As part of the plan, the Turkish navy will increase its patrols in the eastern Mediterranean and pursue “a more aggressive strategy”.

According to the report, Turkish naval vessels will accompany civilian ships carrying aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. . . (more>





Breaking: Turkey Stands Up to Israel

2 09 2011

Turkey downgrades ties with Israel
Ankara expels Israeli diplomats and suspends military co-operation ahead of over 2010 flotilla raid.

Turkey has downgraded diplomatic ties with Israel and suspended military co-operation between the countries in anticipation of the release of a United Nations report into Israel’s raid of a Gaza-bound ship…

. . . All military agreements “have been suspended as of now”, [Turkish foreign minister]  Davutoglu said, and Turkey will now see any measures necessary for the pertaining of freedom in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, the foreign minister said.

Turkey does not recognise Israel’s blockade on Gaza as legal and will take this matter to the International Court of Justice, he concluded. . . (more)
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/09/2011927226423902.html

BBC:

Officials in Ankara said it was also suspending all remaining military agreements with Israel.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said some of the report’s findings, leaked to the New York Times, were unacceptable.
Turkey wants Israel to apologise for the raid but it has refused to do so.
Nine Turkish pro-Palestinian activists were killed when Israeli forces stormed the flotilla in May 2010. . .

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14762475 

See Also –

 Mavi Marmara Survivor testimonies