Turkey, Israel trade barbs over apology demand

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu insisted yesterday that Turkey is demanding an official apology from Israel because its commandos killed nine Turks on an aid ship in international waters during a May 31 deadly raid despite Israeli statements that it won't offer one. Davutoglu, speaking in an interview with TGRT, dismissed statements from Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman that Israel will not apologize because its soldiers killed the Turks on the Mavi Marmara ship while trying to defend themselves. Davutoglu said that he could not communicate with Lieberman, as he is a figure lacking diplomatic "decency." "Israel should either apologize and pay compensation unilaterally as a result of its own inquiry or, if it doesn't want to do that, it should wait for the results of (a probe by) an international commission," Davutoglu said. "If those two conditions don't materialize, Turkey is not just any country, Turkey will not stay indifferent." He said these two conditions are the minimum steps required under international law. But Davutoglu fell short of saying that Turkey will break off relations with Israel if it refuses to comply.