In unofficial remarks, Israeli diplomat says
apology succeeded in preventing Turkish prosecution against Israeli
soldiers as well as striking an understanding that Turkey will no longer
pressure Israel to lift its naval blockade on Gaza Strip.
"Erdoğan will try to present
the apology as a Turkish victory," Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdoğan.
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Photo credit: AFP |
A week after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
issued a formal apology to Turkey, officials in Jerusalem are speaking
out for the first time about the event, coming out in strong defense of
the controversial apology.
Last Friday, Netanyahu apologized to Turkish
counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for the 2010 incident in which nine
Turkish activists were killed on a Gaza-bound protest ship in a
confrontation with Israeli commandos.
A diplomatic official stressed this weekend
that the apology had garnered a double victory: It succeeded in
protecting Israeli soldiers from legal proceedings underway against them
in Turkey, and achieved reconciliation with Turkey with the
understanding that Turkey will not pressure Israel to lift the naval
blockade on Gaza.
The remarks were not made officially, nor did they come from the Prime Minister's Office or the Foreign Ministry.
Another public figure to remark on the apology
this weekend was International Relations, Strategic Affairs and
Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz, who said on Channel 2 news on
Friday that the apology was a necessary foreign policy move.
"We took into account the fact that Erdoğan
would try to present it as a [Turkish] victory," Steinitz said. "But
this move enables us to renew dialogue, also in light of the situation
in Syria."
He added that the apology was also important
to the Americans. "But it was entirely our initiative. There was some
deliberation, but ultimately, the right thing was done."
In an interview with CNN Türk, Erdoğan said
that Israeli and Turkish delegations would first discuss the Israeli
restitution to the families of the victims on April 12, in about two
weeks' time. Over the weekend, Turkish English-language daily Today's
Zaman quoted Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç as confirming
reports that an Israeli delegation was expected to arrive in Ankara next
week to coordinate the amount of compensation with the Turkish
administration.
"Everyone is talking about different sums,"
Arınç said. "To avoid future disappointments, it is best not to discuss
these things."
"This matter should be discussed by legal experts," said
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, adding that "Israel's apology
was not about Syria. It was a product of Turkish diplomatic pressure."
Comment: We note that these kind of statements are difficult to measure in terms of plus or minus. There are short term and long term outcomes. Given the nature of events and circumstances shifting in our region, I support the PM's decision.My readers are free to disagree-time will tell. It is not easy to govern!!
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