Turkey’s deputy PM says ties with Israel will be reduced
By APFriday, June 4, 2010
Turkey to decrease relations with Israel
ISTANBUL — Turkey’s deputy prime minister says economic and defense cooperation with Israel will be reduced amid tensions after the killing of nine Turkish activists by Israeli commandos on an aid ship.
Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc says all deals with Israel are being evaluated. He said Friday “we are serious on this issue. New cooperation will not start and relations with Israel will be reduced.”
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey’s health ministry says it has dispatched two ambulance planes to Israel to bring home the last five Turkish activists who were wounded by Israeli soldiers in a raid on an aid ship.
Some of the nine victims have already been buried here but some others including the youngest of the killed — 19-year-old high school student Furkan Dogan, who had dual U.S.-Turkish citizenship — will be buried Friday.
The health ministry says it is not clear when the ambulances, carrying Turkish surgeons, will return from Israel. At least 24 people have been wounded.
Turkish leaders have said Israel’s bloody raid Monday to stop the aid flotilla that attempted to break the blockade on Gaza inflicted a heavy blow on its ties with its closest Muslim ally — Turkey.
