UN Report On Last Year's Flotilla: Maybe It's Turkey That Owes An Apology?

It may not be the best motive, but at least it has Turkey talking to Israel talking about last year's flotilla:

Israeli and Turkish representatives are working against the clock in New York, trying to patch together a formula to end the Mavi Marmara affair before a July 7 deadline set for the issuing of a UN report on the incident that could potentially exacerbate tensions between the two countries.

Now it appears there is not such a hurry--the UN's Palmer report on the Mavi Marmara is being delayed:

A report on the 2010 Free Gaza flotilla, postponed Wednesday due to stalemated talks between Israel and Turkey, contains harsh criticism against both states but insists the naval blockade is legal, Israeli sources told Ynet.

Deputy Prime Minister Moshe Ya'alon returned recently from the US, where he met with Turkish representatives over the UN-appointed inquiry committee on the flotilla. It was then reported that the Palmer report on the flotilla had been postponed indefinitely due to disagreements between the two states.

That, of course, is a key point: the UN agreeing that the Israeli blockade against Gaza--to prevent the entry of weapons and the materials used to make them--is legal. Of course, such a finding by the UN would mean more if the report were actually to be made public.

The report claims that Israel used excessive force in response to the IDF soldiers being attacked by members armed with knives, one thrown overboard and at least on being kidnapped.

I suppose that is to balance the issue of ties of the IHH affiliation with Turkish government officials. Israel Matzav blogged last year about Turkish ties to the IHH and to last year's flotilla,based on a New York Times article:

According to a senior Turkish official close to the government, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the political delicacy of the issue, as many as 10 Parliament members from Mr. Erdogan’s governing Justice and Development Party were considering boarding the Mavi Marmara, the ship where the deadly raid occurred, but were warned off at the last minute by senior Foreign Ministry officials concerned that their presence might escalate tensions too much.

When leaders of the charity returned home after nine Turks died in the Israeli raid, they were warmly embraced by top Turkish officials, said Huseyin Oruc, deputy director of the charity, who was aboard the flotilla.

“When we flew back to Turkey, I was afraid we would be in trouble for what happened, but the first thing we saw when the plane’s door opened in Istanbul was Bulent Arinc, the deputy prime minister, in tears,” he said in an interview. “We have good coordination with Mr. Erdogan,” he added. “But I am not sure he is happy with us now.”

Yah think?

Israel may have expected the usual UN condemnation, but it is unlikely that Turkey did--especially as it contradicts their righteous indignation in demanding an apology from Israel.

If anything, the Palmer report indicates that it is Turkey that owes an apology.

Technorati Tag: Israel and Gaza Flotilla and Turkey.