Israel was forced to accept to bring up the raid onto the UN agenda as a result of Turkey’s pressure. And this is the first time for Israel to let UN assessing an act of Israeli army.  Commission undertook the investigation chaired by former Prime Minister of NZ Geoffrey Palmer.

 

After successive deferments report was declared last Friday. According to report: Gaza Blockade is legal, Israel Forces encountered stiff resistance during raid and it was inevitable that using force to protect themselves, but the force was unnecessary and excessive. Report harshly criticized IHH, appreciates the right of Israel to protect itself. Compensation and apology are only recommendation.

 

While Palmer report assesses Gaza blockade as fair, another UN report by Human Rights Committee defined Gaza Blockade illegal. UN also is blamed for inconsistency. Both of the report was prepared by lawyers who work for UN.

Report was intended to be equal distance to Israel and Turkey. Defining force by Israel unnecessary and excessive is criticism to Israel. Legitimacy of Gaza Blockade is against Turkey’s claim.

 

Netanyahu declared only three days before of submission of Palmer Report that Israel wouldn’t apologize to Turkey over Mavi Marmara raid. Decision has been taken reconsidering possible reactions of public opinion. After this declaration Turkey gave time to apology till the declaration of UN report. Over refusal of Israel to apologize for bloody raid to Mavi Marmara, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu declared sanctions to Israel with an anger that can be easily realized. Sanctions; reducing relations with Israel the level of the second clerk, suspension of all military ties, measure pertaining to freedom of the navigation in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, demanding a review of the Gaza blockade by the ICJ, encouraging the sufferer families about trialing Israeli authorities.

 

Turkey emphasized that these sanctions are just first step. If Israel carries on present attitude there will be a second step. Now Israel is thinking about next step. The economic treaties are still valid. Turkey can cancel these agreements. Haaretz claims that Turkey prohibited airspace to Israel military flights.

 

According to Israeli Mideast specialist Joshua Teitelbaum, these cases are the results of new Turkish Middle East policy and desire to be a Great Power in Middle East. Turkey wants to return to Ottoman era. And creating hostility against Israel serves to this purpose.

 

After Turkey’s sanctions decision, Netanyahu restated Israel’s refusal to apology saying: “We appreciate relations with Ankara nevertheless we won’t apologize.” There are different kind reasons of avoiding apology. It is known that Knesset was not conformable about apology to Turkey. Avigdor Lieberman argues against apology, while Ehud Barak supports apology by highlighting the problems other countries in the region like Syria, Lebanon and Iran. Avigdor Lieberman is the most important person who impedes the apology. Netanyahu couldn’t venture on apologize not to risk the coalition because Avigdor Lieberman implied government crisis despite his announcement not leaving the coalition. There are still two years for elections in Israel and it would be a knotty problem for Netanyahu to break coalition.

 

Lieberman is also gaining power among right wing parties. Most of the Jews who are from former USSR support for Lieberman. And right wing giving up supporting Netanyahu because of crisis in Israel has started to support for Lieberman’s Our Home. Prime Minister Netanyahu cannot sacrifice the votes of these electors.

 

While the government is asserting that most of the Israeli don’t want apology, according to journalists and specialist, refusing apology is a fault. In some veteran commenter’s opinion, Turkey’s behavior will be an example to Arab countries. Jordan and Egypt can act like Turkey and withdraw their ambassadors. Facing opposition of neighbor countries is the worst scenario for Israel. It is worse than Turkey’s sanctions. And Turkey’s first intention may be an example for all Arab countries.

 

Even if the USA says “Palmer report is a professional and rigorous work” everyone knows that refusal to apologize is not desirable by the USA. Preserving Israel and Turkey’s good relations was an indispensible requirement for the USA in the Mideast. After apathy in relations, USA interests took a vulnerable position. For this reason USA was trying hard to break the ice between Israel and Turkey.

 

Israeli media mentioned that Hilary Clinton said to diplomats in Washington “the USA interests in Mideast will be damaged if Israel doesn’t apologize to Turkey.” Common view in the USA is concerned about the vagueness in Turkey’s behavior. According to New York Times Turkeys endeavors to break Gaza Blockade shows that Turkey may not comply with agreements.

 

In addition these warnings the USA also threatened Israel not to find enough number of countries against Independent Palestine State in September. This comes to mean an implied recognition of Independent Palestine. Also withholding financial aid from Shayetet 13 unit of IDF which joined raid to Mavi Marmara is on agenda. Democrat Senator Patrick Leahy wants to withhold aid from Shayetet 13, Duvdevan unit and Israel air forces Shaldag unit. Leahy asserted that they are violating human rights in Gaza Strip and West Bank and brought in a bill that bans the financial aid and military training aid to mentioned units. Despite all exerting efforts of Ehud Barack, Leahy has not given up his proposal.

 

Despite all exerting efforts Turkey and Israel relations are sinking. But in American experts opinion the weak side is Israel. And no one expects an apology to Turkey from now.