BICOM

The UN report investigating the incident last May when IDF commandos boarded the Mavi Marmara ship has been held for release until 27 July. The delay of the UN Palmer commission report was announced in order to allow Israel and Turkey time to continue diplomatic talks aimed at mending relations between the two countries. The report – which is widely believed to uphold the legality of Israel’s maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip, but criticises the IDF for excessive force – was meant to have been released yesterday.

According to officials quoted in the Jerusalem Post, the US was involved in the delay of the release of the report, as to allow negotiations between the two sides to continue. The report was originally scheduled to have been released on 15 May, but was postponed at the request of Turkey, apparently concerned about the impact the report – which reportedly holds Ankara responsible to a large degree for the events – would have on the Turkish public before the 12 June elections there.

Strategic Affairs Minister, Moshe Ya’alon is leading the Israeli delegation in the talks with Turkish officials. He met earlier this week in New York with Turkish Foreign Ministry Under Secretary Feridun Sinirlioglu but the two sides are yet to reach a mutual agreement. The main obstacle to mending bilateral relations is Ankara’s insistence in an apology and compensation for the victims, which Israel has refused to do, although Jerusalem has indicated it is willing to express regret if an agreement is reached which puts an end to the whole affair.