On Monday, May 31, 2010, Israel Navy troops boarded half a dozen ships that made up a flotilla headed from Turkey for the Gaza Strip. The six-vessel convoy had the intent of breaking through a comprehensive blockade Israel had placed on the coastal territory.
The navy took control of five of the ships without incident, but resistance by activists on the sixth vessel led to clashes that claimed the lives of nine of the boat's passengers, and left dozens of activists and soldiers wounded.
Israel had requested that the flotilla turn off its course, and head for the Israeli port of Ashdod, where the aid it was carrying could be transferred via land to Gaza. This was rejected by the flotilla, leading Israel to dispatch its troops to intercept the ships before they reached Gaza.
The action was condemned internationally, in particular by Turkey, which recalled its ambassador and branded Israel a "terrorist state."
Ankara, Jerusalem negotiating agreement for restoring ties that would include payment to families of nine Turks killed by IDF on Gaza flotilla, but while Israel is prepared to pay $100,000 to each family, Turkey demands $1 million.
by Barak Ravid 32 commentsChoice quotes from the writings of Yair Lapid, the journalist.
by Yitzhak Laor 0 comments
The War Crimes court prosecutor is obliged to open probe after complaint from the tiny African state of Comoros, to which the Mavi Marmara vessel Israel raided in 2010 was registered. Few preliminary examinations lead to full investigation, let alone trial.
by The Associated Press and Reuters 27 comments
Condemnation comes after several days of silence, as Turkey and Israel expected to reach final agreement on Gaza flotilla compensation, normalization of ties.
by Barak Ravid 22 comments
After meeting in Jerusalem, Israeli and Turkish officials formulate draft agreement on criteria that determines eligibility for compensation, but actual amount for payment yet to be finalized.
by Barak Ravid 8 comments
Second round of talks to focus on how much money Israel will transfer to Turkish humanitarian fund.
by Barak Ravid 3 comments
Moving ahead with his travel plans seems calculated to avoid giving the impression of another impending attack and an effort to not bail on the Chinese again after doing so in 2010.
by Barak Ravid 3 comments
Agreement will become binding international treaty once approved by Turkish government and parliament; Turkish media reports Israel will also compensate 70 Turkish citizens injured aboard the Mavi Marmara.
by Barak Ravid 13 comments
Shift from Egypt to Turkey reflects increasingly distant relations between Cairo and Ramallah, Palestinian sources tell Al-Aharam.
by Jack Khoury 6 comments
The meetings on Monday will focus on payments for the victims of a 2010 Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, a key Turkish demand in the restoration of ties between the two former allies.
by Barak Ravid and The Associated Press 3 comments
