Ban Ki-moon urges Turkey and Israel to end diplomatic row

UN secretary general’s intervention comes as Turkey downgrades relations with Israel over armed raid on aid flotilla The UN secretary general has urged Turkey and Israel to resolve their diplomatic row over Israel’s armed assault on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in which nine people were killed. The intervention by Ban Ki-moon came after Turkey dramatically downgraded its relations with Israel, cutting military ties with its former ally and expelling the country’s ambassador over his government’s refusal to apologise for the killings of eight Turkish citizens and a Turkish American last May. Ban said the two countries should accept the recommendations of a UN report that examined the incident. The report found that Israel had used “excessive and unreasonable” force to stop the flotilla approaching Gaza, but that it was justified in maintaining a naval blockade on the Palestinian enclave. He added that strong ties between Turkey and Israel, which both share a border with Syria, were important for peace and stability in the Middle East. “I sincerely hope that Israel and Turkey will improve their relationship,” he added. “Both countries are very important countries in the region, and their improved relationship will be very important in addressing all the situations in the Middle East, including the Middle East peace process.” But Ban, speaking in Canberra on Saturday after talks with the Australian prime minister, Julia Gillard, would not be drawn on findings of the UN report of the flotilla incident last summer. “I’m not in position to say any specific comments on the substance of the findings and recommendations of the panel’s report,” he said. “My only wish is that they should try to improve their relationship and do what they can to implement the recommendations and findings.” There was little sign f rapprochement, with the Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev telling BBC Radio 4′s Today programme: “We believe our soldiers acted in a reasonable way in a complex situation.” The UN investigation, chaired by Geoffrey Palmer, a former New Zealand prime minister, focused on the events on the Mavi Marmara, a Turkish-flagged vessel which was the largest ship in an flotilla aimed at breaking the Gaza blockade, on 31 May last year. It was boarded by Israeli commandoes who were met with resistance by some of the pro-Palestinian activists on board, nine of whom died. The report stated: “There has been no satisfactory explanation as to how and why the nine people were killed. “Forensic evidence showing that most of the deceased were shot multiple times, including in the back or at close range, has not been adequately accounted for in the material presented by Israel.” Turkey’s foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, said on Friday that the Israeli ambassador, Gabby Levy, and other senior Israeli diplomats would have to leave their posts by Wednesday and that Turkey’s representation in Israel would be downgraded to the junior level of second secretary. “The time has come for Israel to pay for its stance that sees it above international laws and disregards human conscience,” Davutoglu said. “The first and foremost result is that Israel is going to be devoid of Turkey’s friendship … as long as the Israeli government does not take the necessary steps, there will be no turning back.” Israel issued no official response to its ambassador’s expulsion, but Israeli officials have pointed to the judgment in the Palmer report that the blockade of Gaza is justified under international law. Turkey has rejected that finding, and called for the blockade to be reassessed by the UN and by the international court of justice. Ban Ki-moon United Nations Israel Turkey Middle East Europe David Batty guardian.co.uk

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