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Israel is reportedly seeking to reach a deal with Turkey to compensate the relatives of those Turkish activists killed in the May raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla.
In exchange, Tel Aviv wants a "full shield" to protect its troops from possible legal action.
"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 told The Telegraph.
"For now, however, there are still big obstacles," the official went on to say.
Israel has offered to pay $100,000 dollars to each family of the nine slain activists.
Tel Aviv also wants to express "regret" over the bloodshed rather than "apologize" -- which has been one of Ankara's main demands.
Turkey, however, says its demands have not changed.
"Israel has behaved unjustly towards Turkey regarding the aid ship Mavi Marmara and we are still expecting compensation and an apology," Turkey's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Selcuk Unal said on Friday.
Last Sunday, Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated his position that Israel must apologize and pay compensations over the killing of nine Turkish activists.
"No one should expect us to keep silent and forfeit law and justice as long as the blood spilled in the Mediterranean is not cleared," he said.
The bilateral relations between Turkey and Israel reached their lowest ebb ever following the incident.
"Some say we should turn a new page... An apology must be offered first, compensation must be paid first," Erdogan noted.
Originally posted by Xcathdra
reply to post by oozyism
Here is another source so we can avoid the PRessTV argument.
Israel likely to offer heavy 'humanitarian' compensation over Turkey flotilla deaths
Is there any particular reason you guys dont want to see peace in the Middle East? I seriously doubt you guys would prefer to continue the useless bloodshed.
Other Israeli politicians, including Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Vice Prime Minister, criticized Netanyahu's decision Wednesday, saying Israel should not apologize for the Gaza flotilla raid.
Israel is refusing to use the word "apology," as it continues to insist that the actions the navy took on the flotilla were legitimate. Israel has, however, agreed to express sorrow and regret over the killing of the Turkish activists on board.
Originally posted by Xcathdra
reply to post by backinblack
Israel should of sent the vessels to the bottom of the sea when they violated the warning and blockade. But since we are talking about repsonsibility how is the Hezbollah issue going with the UN report linking them to the assasination of the Lebanese Prime Minister a few years ago. I always find it funny when UN is invoked against Israel, yet condemed as a puppet when its against a middle east country.
As long as people like you and Ozzy maintain that attidue, nothing will change except the body count.
Originally posted by Dimitri Dzengalshlevi
I guess Israel is admitting they were in the wrong then, especially since they don't want to lose Turkey's backing since Turkey does not mess around when its people are killed by commandos.
$100,000 for a life. Reminds me of a description of the term "reparations" that I read many years ago: "Sorry I burned down your village, here's some gold".
Originally posted by backinblack
Originally posted by Dimitri Dzengalshlevi
I guess Israel is admitting they were in the wrong then, especially since they don't want to lose Turkey's backing since Turkey does not mess around when its people are killed by commandos.
$100,000 for a life. Reminds me of a description of the term "reparations" that I read many years ago: "Sorry I burned down your village, here's some gold".
I hope that was sarcasm...
Israel will NEVER admit they were wrong..
This is nothing but hush money to stop a real investigation..
Read my earlier post..Many in Israel Government are totally against even this gesture..
I agree with what you are saying. What I mean is that if they want to continue to persist with the notion that they were right, then why would they even consider reparations because it would clearly show them as knowing they screwed up?
According to the report in Huriyet, Israel wants the expression of sorrow and regret to be "humanitarian" and addressed toward the victims, rather than an official apology to the Turkish government. Erdogan, for his part, is demanding that Israel apologize "to the Turkish republic."