"Israel" to Partially Apologize over Marmara

Local Editor

"Israel" reportedly may apologize to Turkey for the so-called "operational errors" during its massacre raid on a 2010 Turkish aid flotilla to Gaza ahead of a visit by US President Barack Obama.

According to the Turkish newspaper Radikal, the partial apology may have been the subject of secret talks between Turkey and "Israel".
Radikal journalist Deniz Zeyrek wrote that unnamed Turkish foreign ministry officials told him on Feb. 19 that "such meetings could be going on."

Obama, who is due to visit "Israel" in late March, has pressed for reconciliation.
As a condition to normalizing diplomatic ties with "Israel", Turkey has demanded that "Israel" apologize for the martyrdom of nine activists who were massacred when "Israeli" commandoes raided the Mavi Marmara ship during in the Mediterranean.

The aid ship, chartered by the Islamist IHH organization, was headed to the Gaza Strip to deliver aids and medical supplements to the besieged strip.
"Turkey has also demanded "Israel" lift the siege, but is prepared to drop that demand," the report in Radikal said. Additionally, "Israel" will offer compensation to the families of those killed, according to the report.

Such a deal was under consideration in the summer of 2011, but was scuttled in part because of objections by then- "Israeli" Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. Now facing trial on corruption charges, Lieberman is no longer in government.
Radikal quoted an unnamed Turkish diplomat as saying that ‘'It does not seem likely that any step will be taken before the new "Israeli" government is formed and an official position adopted."

Source: News agencies, Edited by moqawama.org