Turkey to encourage Mavi Marmara victims' families to file charges against IDF soldiers

Leading Israeli daily Haaretz on Thursday suggested Turkey planned to launch a diplomatic and legal assault on Israel after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused on Wednesday to issue an apology to Turkey for the raid on the Gaza aid flotilla last year in which nine Turkish pro-Palestinian activists were killed. According to report, Turkey also plans to encourage the families of the raid's victims to file suits against senior Israeli figures in European courts. The Palmer report by the UN inquiry panel is expected to be released on August 23. Diplomatic sources said the report, which was repeatedly delayed to allow for Israeli-Turkish rapprochement talks, could be released early.