EU hails election results, while Israel stays wary

European Union leaders hailed the results of Turkey's elections on Sunday, expressing hope for the Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) proposed constitutional reforms, but Israel remained skeptical of the current government's goals. EU President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso applauded Sunday's poll results, saying they provide the AK Party with fresh impetus to pursue democratic reforms and boost Turkey's bid for EU membership. But Israel took the opportunity to call on Turkey to block a flotilla of activists hoping to sail to Gaza later this month, warning it could mar bilateral relations. "It's clear that we don't want to see encouragement on the part of the Turkish government toward a provocative flotilla," Deputy Israeli Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon told public radio. "We hope that a responsible government will not act against international law and will stop its citizens from entering dangerous zones."