Israel will stick to its decision not to apologize to Turkey over the May 2010 raid of a Gaza-bound Turkish ship, despite a direct request from the United States. Israeli media cited unnamed officials as saying that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had turned down an American request to apologize to Turkey over the deaths of nine Turkish citizens when an Israel Navy commando raided the 'Mavi Marmara' vessel on 31 May 2010.
The findings of a United Nations inquiry into the incident are expected to be made public early next week. The Palmer Report, whose publication was delayed by several weeks in order to give Turkey and Israel more time to reconcile, will reportedly say that Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip is legal.
The Turkish government has said it will not reconcile with Israel until Jerusalem offers a formal apology and compensates the families of the victims; Israel has offered to express its "regret." Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman in an interview with an Israeli television network said it was "a wise and correct decision" not to offer an apology to Turkey. He added that the Palmer Report would be published on 23 August and be "very positive toward Israel".
Meanwhile, the 'Ynet' news service reported that the Netanyahu government is concerned that Turkey will not approve Israel's new ambassador to the country, who is scheduled to arrive in Ankara shortly after the release of the Palmer report. The term of the current ambassador, Gabby Levy, will end in two weeks. Levy had been asked to extend his term for a second time, which does not require Turkey's approval, according to 'Ynet', but he refused. Turkey withdrew its ambassador in Tel Aviv shortly after the flotilla incident.
