Turkey and Israel officially downgrade political ties

Turkey and Israel officially downgrade political ties

2011-09-09 07:46:40 GMT+7 (ICT)

ANKARA, TURKEY (BNO NEWS) -- Turkish and Israeli senior diplomats left their respective embassies on Thursday as the two countries officially downgraded their political ties, local media reported.

Tensions have risen between both countries since the 2010 Gaza flotilla raid and Israel's constant refusal to apologize regarding the incident. Israeli ambassador Gaby Levy was in Israel last week when Turkey made the announcement of downgrading its ties with the country. But the embassy's number two, Ella Aphek, departed on Thursday, saying she was "very sad" and hoping relations would be put "back on track."

Meanwhile, Turkish Transportation Minister Binali Yıldırım compared Israel's raid against the flotilla to attacks carried out by Somali pirates, arguing they were "no different," the Hurriyet Daily News reported.

"Israel's act in these waters is no different than the pirates in the Aden Gulf," Yıldırım told the media outlet. "Except for the 12-mile coastal shore, the waters are open to everyone's use. No country has the right to prevent us from using our law-granted rights," he added.

Yıldırım also backed Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu's comments, saying that Israel had no right to implement a 20-mile zone of territorial waters along its shores, as it has argued due to the ongoing sea blockade of Gaza. Davutoğlu called for "navigational freedom."

Last week, DavutoÄŸlu announced that Israel's ambassador and senior diplomats had been expelled from the country. The announcement was made as Israel has refused to apologize and issue compensations for the families of those killed during the Gaza flotilla raid, as well as end its blockade of Palestinians residing in Gaza.

A UN report previously stated that the naval blockade was "imposed as a legitimate security measure in order to prevent weapons from entering Gaza by sea and its implementation complied with the requirements of international law."

However, it also stated that Israel's decision to board the vessels with "such substantial force at a great distance from the blockade zone and with no final warning immediately prior to the boarding was excessive and unreasonable."

In May 2010, nine pro-Palestinian activists were killed and dozens more were injured when Israeli commandos boarded a ship participating in the 'Freedom Flotilla I', which was heading to the Gaza Strip with humanitarian aid on board. The incident caused global outrage over alleged excessive force, but Israel has denied that and said its commandos were being attacked.

Following the incident, Turkey withdrew its Ambassador to Israel and suspended joint military exercises, as well as banning any Israeli military aircraft from entering its national airspace.

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