Turkey withdraws top envoy as Israeli attack causes furor
Source: Agencies |
June 1, 2010, Tuesday
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TURKEY withdrew its ambassador to Israel and called for an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council as criticism arose internationally yesterday over the deadly commando raid on ships taking humanitarian aid to the blockaded Gaza Strip.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Israel had violated international law and shown that it did not want peace in the region.
"It should be known that we are not going to remain silent in the face of this inhumane state terrorism," he said.
The raid, in which at least nine activists, mostly Turks, were killed and many more wounded, was a new blow to Israel's international standing at a time when the West - including the United States - has grown frustrated with its stance in the peace process.
The bloodshed particularly hurts its relations with Turkey, which was once a close regional ally of Israel but has become increasingly critical of it.
The flotilla of six ships, carrying about 700 activists, was sponsored in part by a Turkish organization.
A crowd of Turks tried to storm the Israel Consulate in Istanbul before some 10,000 marched to a main square.
About 1,000 protested in Jordan's capital of Amman, calling for their government to cut diplomatic ties with Israel. Protests erupted in capitals across the Middle East, Europe and South Asia.
Israel said the activists attacked its commandos as they boarded the six ships taking tons of supplies to Gaza, while the flotilla's organizers said the Israeli forces opened fire first.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the violence.
The White House issued a cautious reaction, saying "the US deeply regrets the loss of life and injuries sustained, and is currently working to understand the circumstances surrounding this tragedy."
The European Union's foreign affairs chief, Catherine Ashton, said the bloc was deeply concerned and she called on Israel to carry out an inquiry.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague deplored the killings and called for an end to the Gaza blockade.
Greece suspended a military exercise with Israel and postponed a visit by Israel's air force chief. Greece, Egypt, Sweden, Spain and Denmark summoned Israel's ambassadors demanding explanations for the violence. Spain and France condemned what they called the disproportionate use of force.
Germany called for an immediate investigation and said it was seeking information on six German citizens believed to have been aboard the ships.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Israel had violated international law and shown that it did not want peace in the region.
"It should be known that we are not going to remain silent in the face of this inhumane state terrorism," he said.
The raid, in which at least nine activists, mostly Turks, were killed and many more wounded, was a new blow to Israel's international standing at a time when the West - including the United States - has grown frustrated with its stance in the peace process.
The bloodshed particularly hurts its relations with Turkey, which was once a close regional ally of Israel but has become increasingly critical of it.
The flotilla of six ships, carrying about 700 activists, was sponsored in part by a Turkish organization.
A crowd of Turks tried to storm the Israel Consulate in Istanbul before some 10,000 marched to a main square.
About 1,000 protested in Jordan's capital of Amman, calling for their government to cut diplomatic ties with Israel. Protests erupted in capitals across the Middle East, Europe and South Asia.
Israel said the activists attacked its commandos as they boarded the six ships taking tons of supplies to Gaza, while the flotilla's organizers said the Israeli forces opened fire first.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the violence.
The White House issued a cautious reaction, saying "the US deeply regrets the loss of life and injuries sustained, and is currently working to understand the circumstances surrounding this tragedy."
The European Union's foreign affairs chief, Catherine Ashton, said the bloc was deeply concerned and she called on Israel to carry out an inquiry.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague deplored the killings and called for an end to the Gaza blockade.
Greece suspended a military exercise with Israel and postponed a visit by Israel's air force chief. Greece, Egypt, Sweden, Spain and Denmark summoned Israel's ambassadors demanding explanations for the violence. Spain and France condemned what they called the disproportionate use of force.
Germany called for an immediate investigation and said it was seeking information on six German citizens believed to have been aboard the ships.
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