Leaders from the Middle East and Asia condemned Israel's raid on a Turkish aid ship bound for Gaza at a summit on Tuesday, calling on the Jewish state to end what they called "an inhuman blockade" of the Palestinian territory. In a diplomatic coup for Turkey, all members of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia except Israel itself, denounced last week's raid, in which 9 pro-Palestinian Turkish activists were killed. Turkish President Abdullah Gul said Israel could go some way towards repairing the damage by offering "acceptable restitution", but added "This cannot be forgotten by Turkey".
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin also condemned the action.
"The attack against an aid flotilla and the loss of peace activists has revived tension in the region. I condemn such a crude violation of the universally recognized norms of the International Law.”
A final declaration of the 20-member forum omitted any reference to Israel which, as a fellow member, had objected. Until recently, NATO member Turkey had largely avoided getting embroiled in conflicts in its eastern backyard as it pursued its goal of joining the European Union.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters.
