With Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Barack Obama meeting in Washington, it is urgent that the Israeli leader be reminded of the importance of a thorough international investigation of the Israeli raid on the Freedom Flotilla that occurred at the end of May. Since the aggression was conducted on the high seas against a vessel flying the Turkish flag, there are also bilateral issues that should be addressed in light of Turkey’s ongoing wish to see justice served.
Turkey has clearly and consistently insisted that Israel apologise for the fatal raid and agree to an international investigation of the incident. Only after these conditions have been met can the two countries begin to restore relations.
There are some facts that should be established first. The Israeli attack on the “Free Gaza” aid flotilla happened 72 nautical miles off the coast. While it is important to note that the Turkish government did not support the NGO that organised the aid flotilla, an attack on Turkish-flagged ships in international waters constitutes a blatant violation of Turkish sovereignty and a crime committed in Turkey.
For more: Israeli flotilla raid violated Turkey’s sovereign rights - The National Newspaper
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