Israel acting irrationally, says president Gul

President Abdullah Gul said on Tuesday that divisions within Israel's coalition are stopping the Jewish state from repairing ties with Turkey after the severe strain of a May 31 raid on a Gaza-bound aid ship that left nine Turks dead. Speaking to Reuters, Gul said Israel's apparent readiness to become more isolated by ditching relations with a country that has been its only Muslim ally is irrational. "They don't have many friends in the region," Gul said. "Now it seems they want to get rid of the relationship with Turkey." The president said that he believes bitter rivalries within the Israeli coalition are stopping a rapprochement. "As far as I can see, the internal political strife in Israel is very harsh," he said. "They undermine each other... they always block one another. It is important that everyone is aware of what kind of politics is going on there. My own impression is that they don't have the ability to act rationally."