Turkey cuts all military ties with Israel

Fri Sep 2, 2011

Turkey has suspended all its military ties with Israel and has expelled Israel's envoy from Ankara over Tel Aviv's refusal to apologize for last year's deadly attack on a Gaza-bound flotilla, Press TV reports.

The Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu made the announcement in a press conference on Friday and said, “The time has come for Israel to pay for its stance that sees it above international laws and disregards human conscience."

"At this point the measures we are taking are: The relations between Turkey and Israel will be downgraded to second secretary level. All officials over the level of second secretary, primarily the ambassador will turn back to their country at the latest on Wednesday," added Davutoglu.

Relations between Turkey and Israel began to deteriorate after the Israeli military attacked the Gaza-bound relief aid convoy Freedom Flotilla in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea in May 2010, killing nine Turkish citizens on board the Turkish-flagged M.V. Mavi Marmara and injuring at least 50 other activist that were part of the team on the six-ship convoy.

Turkey's President Abduallah Gul says expulsion of Israeli envoy is just the first step in many possible measures taken against Israel if it persists in its refusal to apologize.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.com/detail/197024.html.