Israel will not apologize to Turkey over the Gaza-bound aid flotilla's attack, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Monday.
Israeli-Turkish relations deteriorated after Israeli commandos stormed the six-ship Freedom Flotilla on May 31 in international waters off the coast of the Gaza Strip. The vessels were carrying about 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid and up to 700 human rights activists to the Palestinian enclave. At least nine activists, four of them Turks, were killed when Israeli armed forces dropped on board from helicopters and opened fire.
"I still think our country has nothing to apologize to Turkey for after the incident with the Marmara vessel on May 31," Lieberman, who is on a visit to Latvia, said after a meeting with his Latvian counterpart.
Following the attack, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged to halt relations with Israel, including military technical ties.
Lieberman said it was Turkey who must apologize.
Earlier Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to apologize to Turkey for the Freedom Flotilla attack and pay compensation to those injured, though he expressed his willingness to settle bilateral ties.
RIGA, July 5 (RIA Novosti)
