Turkey expels Israeli envoy over Gaza flotilla

Turkey expels Israeli ambassador to Ankara and suspends all military ties with its one-time ally.


Afp September 02, 2011

ANKARA: Turkey expelled the Israeli ambassador to Ankara on Friday and suspended all military ties with its one-time ally after a UN report condemned excessive force used by Israel on a Gaza aid flotilla.

"At this point the measures we are taking are: The relations between Turkey and Isreal will be downgraded to second secretary level. All officials over the level of second secretary, primarily the ambassador, will turn back to their country at the latest on Wednesday," Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said at a press conference.

Davutoglu counted five measures against Isreal as a protest for its failure to fulfill Turkey's demands to overcome the crisis erupted after Israeli commandor stormed the flagship of the aid flotilla and killed nine Turks.

"Second, all the military agreements between Israel and Turkey are suspended," he said.

"Third, as the country with the longest coastline on the Mediterranean, Turkey will take every precaution it considers necessary for the safety of maritime navigation to East Mediterranean," he said.

Davutoglu said Turkey did not recognise Israel's right to blockade Gaza and intended to take its protest to The International Court of Justice in The Hague.

"For this aim, we are starting initiatives at UN Security Council," he added.

COMMENTS (33)

zaman khan | 12 years ago | Reply

good job done by former muslim leaders country (udhmani empire). pakistan could also thought about kicking US "aids". once again well done

Arindom | 12 years ago | Reply

Sad but true : to get respect in the so called 'muslim world' , one has to score anti-Israel points!

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