Turkey rejects US mediation in crisis with Israel

Turkey has rejected US mediation to resolve the diplomatic crisis between Ankara and Tel Aviv, following Israel’s refusal to apologise for killing nine Turkish activists during its assault on the Freedom Flotilla in May 2010. The ships were taking humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip.

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According to the official Turkish media, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu was swift to reject mediation: “We do not need a mediator and our demands are clear,” he said. “No one should try to test our seriousness in this matter, especially since Turkey’s demands are clear.”

Referring to the meeting between US President Barack Obama and Turkey’s Prime Minster Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Mr Davutoglu said that it is “not something extraordinary”. He added that the steps his country intends to take after its demands are met “are also clear”.

Earlier this month, Turkey severed military and commercial relations with Israel and reduced the level of diplomatic representation between the two countries.