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| The Grand Turk |
| Israel proposes Turkey compensation |
| 2010-12-11 |
| [Al Jazeera] Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has proposed paying compensation to relatives of Turkish citizens killed during a raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, in exchange for Turkey's help in protecting the Israeli navy against lawsuits, officials said. The draft, offered over the weekend in Geneva, Switzerland, some $100,000 to each family of the nine pro-Palestinian activists who were shot dead trying to breach Israel's Gaza blockade in May. They were shot by Israeli marines who boarded the aid-carrying flotilla the Mavi Marmara. It also offered an Israeli expression of "regret" over the incident and included measures for mending ties, according to Israeli diplomatic sources, but stopped short of Turkey's demand Israel formally "apologise" for the deaths. Ahmet Davutoglu, Turkey's foreign minister, described the reports of an Israeli offer as "speculative" and said on Thursday his government's demands had not changed. "We don't think it is right to cite figures, or discussions of apology or regret," Davutoglu said. "The citing of figures or the matter of regret did not come onto the agenda." Turkey has thus far refused to resume full diplomatic relations with Israel until it receives an apology for the raid, which remains the subject of investigation by the United Nations and Israel. 'Big obstacles' "There is a debate on the wording, on the word 'apology'," Ozdem Sanberk, who took part in bilateral fence-mending talks in Geneva on Sunday and Monday, told the AFP news agency. "As far as it concerns the Turkish side, it has never negotiated a word other than the word 'apology'," he said. According to the Israeli press, some Israeli officials are opposed to extending an "apology" for the deaths in the May 31 raid of the Gaza-bound aid flotilla, saying Israel should only express "regret" at the bloodshed. "We made a compensation offer, and asked the Turks to do what needs to be done to address our legal concerns. We also want to see them return their ambassador and allow us to appoint a new ambassador in Ankara," an Israeli official said on Thursday. "For now, however, there are still big obstacles." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 What compensation will Turkey pay for sending the flotilla, a deliberate act of war, and for blackening Israel's name with falsehoods to the nations of the world? This is typical Muslim vs. dhimmi community behaviour, with a demand for submission and the payment of jizya to buy temporary permission to continue to exist. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2010-12-11 13:49 |
| #1 For compensation, Israel should send Turkey a boatload of bacon for its Christian community. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2010-12-11 09:30 |