UN to advise Israel to offer apology and pay compensation to Turkey

A UN panel inquiry into the deadly Israeli raid on an aid flotilla in May 2010 reportedly advises Israel, in order to normalize bilateral ties, to agree to Turkey's demands for an apology and compensation to the victim's families. Although the panel's report is complete, it has not officially been released yet. Spokesperson Martin Nesirky from the UN secretary-general's office told reporters that more time is needed and has been given to the panel to prepare a final report. A reliable source at UN headquarters, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, said Wednesday that in its report, the inquiry panel advises Israel to offer an apology and pay compensation to Turkey over the killings. The report, expected to be presented to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon upon his return to New York, is expected to argue that the Gaza blockade on Israel is legal. "If they really drafted a report saying that the blockade is legal, then it means that they are not relying on international legal norms but instead are creating a new international legal norm that doesn't actually exist," said a Turkish governmental official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue. "If the report eventually emerges with content that legitimizes and legalizes Israel's blockade and embargo on Gaza, it will be legally invalid."