BICOM

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a meeting of Arab League foreign ministers in Cairo yesterday that the mentality of the Israeli government serves as an obstacle to peace in the Middle East, and stressed the need for recognition of a Palestinian state. He also insisted that Ankara would not resume normal bilateral relations with Israel until it apologises for the 2010 Gaza flotilla incident, compensates the families of the victims, and lifts the maritime closure on the Gaza Strip. Without directly mentioning Israel, Erdogan added, “every country must pay for the terror acts it carries out.” Erdogan also stressed that he did not believe any country was above international law. “Turkey will take every possible step to ensure the freedom of movement in the eastern Mediterranean.”

Additionally, the Turkish PM emphasised that the recognition of a Palestinian state in September was “not an option but an obligation.”Erdogan was visiting Egypt at the start of a North African tour aimed at cementing Turkey’s standing in the region following the “Arab Spring” uprisings. Turkey has ambitions to take a leadership role in the region and its diplomatic crisis with Israel is serving its interests by helping it to win supporters in the Arab world.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a tour on the Egyptian border that “eventually common sense and logic prevail, both on our side and on the other side.” Netanyahu plans to hold a meeting with his eight senior ministers today to discuss the diplomatic relations with Turkey. Several meetings by the Foreign Ministry and IDF have already taken place on the topic.

The ministers will be joined by Justice Minister Yaakov Neeman to hear his assessment of the situation after reports that Turkey plans on launching a legal initiative against Israel. Turkey rejected the UN Palmer committee report on the Mavi Marmara raid and plans to approach the International Court of Justice for a legal opinion on sending flotilla ships to break the blockade on Gaza. Israel wants to calm the situation down with Turkey but is also establishing a plan of action if Ankara decides to proceeds with legal action against Israel at The Hague.