In Turkey, British PM likens Gaza to “prison camp”
27 July 2010
Britain’s Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron (pictured with his Turkish counterpart Erdogan) has indirectly attacked Israel by saying that Gaza was currently like a “prison camp.” During a visit to Turkey, he also harshly criticized Israel's raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla in which nine Turkish activists were killed at the end of May. Addressing reporters in Ankara, he said: "The Israeli attack on the Gaza flotilla was completely unacceptable.” In a reference to the blockade of the Gaza Strip, he said: "'The situation in Gaza has to change. Humanitarian goods and people must flow in both directions. Gaza cannot and must not be allowed to remain a prison camp."
However, Cameron also urged Turkey not to allow the incident to wreck its relationship with Israel. On the flotilla raid, the UK prime minister – who heads a coalition government with the center-left Liberal Democrats – declared: "I have told Prime Minister Netanyahu we will expect the Israeli inquiry to be swift, transparent and rigorous.''
Cameron expressed hope that direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians would take place within the coming weeks and urged Turkey to press the parties to come together by ''making the case for peace''. He said: ''Turkey's relationships in the region, both with Israel and with the Arab world, are of incalculable value. No other country has the same potential to build understanding between Israel and the Arab world. I know that Gaza has led to real strains in Turkey's relationship with Israel. 'But Turkey is a friend of Israel.”
The British leader also expressed strong support for Turkey's membership in the European Union, which remains controversial.
Read more on this issue on Robin Shepherd's Blog.
» Israel expected to cooperate with UN inquiry into flotilla raid despite criticism
» Spanish flotilla activists sue Israeli government
» Do you think Israel gets fair treatment from the international community? 
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What a short memory. WWI. the armenian GENOCIDE. and so many more act of miss trust. Just ask Cyprus!!! Mr Erdogan is no Ataturk. He is the complete opposite. a destroyer not a builder. Sorrry Mr Cameron I hope you washed your mouth after kissing his ass.
The Brits of today are a far cry from the Winston Churchill days. A third rate country who didn't give a damn about the Jews in the days before Israel became a nation.
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World Jewish Congress Secretary General Dan Diker speaks on the upcoming debate at the United Nations about the unilateral declaration of statehood by the Palestinians.
Gershone Grushovski, about 1 year ago
Englans AKAa Great Britain intercepted ALIAH ships with thousands of Holocaust survivors/refugees from Europe on their way to Israel, arrested them in prison camps in Cyprus. For the record similar HMS ships, several months to a just few years earlier, were busy fighting Nazi ships. In short, Brits putting survivers in a large camp, complaining that Gaza is a prison camp. Last I checked, they are free to leave. The holocaust survivors in Cyprus were not. Do I have a reason to be confused?