Netanyahu rules out apology to Turkey over deadly raid

JERUSALEM, July 3, AFP; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday praised secret talks with Ankara aimed at mending ties after a deadly raid on a Gaza-bound Turkish aid ship but ruled out any apology.

On May 31, Israeli special forces stormed a flotilla of six ships carrying aid for blockaded Gaza, killing nine Turks on board one of the vessels and sparking international outrage and straining ties with one-time ally Ankara.

"Israel cannot apologise because its soldiers had to defend themselves to avoid being lynched by a crowd," Netanyahu said in an interview with Channel 1 public television.

"We regret the loss of life," Netanyahu said.

The raid on the Mavi Marmara Turkish-owned ferry killed eight Turks and a dual US-Turkish citizen, prompting Ankara to recall its ambassador from Tel Aviv and cancel three planned joint military exercises.

Netanyahu's remarks come two days after Trade Minister Benjamin Ben Eliezer and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu held secret talks in Brussels, to try and ease the feud sparked by the deadly raid.

Netanyahu praised the talks.

"This meeting was important in itself. It is important for Turkey and for Israel that such meetings take place to prevent the deterioration of relations," he said.

Davutoglu told Ben Eliezer in Brussels that Turkey demanded an apology for the bloodshed and that Israel should compensate the families of the victims as well as agree to an international inquiry into the raid, Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Burak Ozugergin has said.

But Netanyahu said that no compensation has been discussed and insisted that a commission set up by Israel to investigate the raid "meets the demands" of the international community for an investigation.

Israel has resisted calls for an international probe into the raid, but appointed a commission of inquiry headed by a retired Supreme Court judge with two international observers.

"This commission has asked for widespread prerogatives and we have agreed to its request because we have nothing to hide," said Netanyahu.

The Israeli military also has launched its own internal investigation. Israel has defended the raid by its special forces saying it had to stop vessels from travelling to Gaza since they could be carrying weapons for the Islamist Hamas rulers of the blockaded coastal enclave.

Meanwhile, the Brussels talks have sparked tensions in Israel as it emerged that Netanyahu gave the go-ahead for the meeting without informing hardline Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

On Friday, Netanyahu met Lieberman to mend ties.

At the meeting, Lieberman reiterated that he does not want Israel to apologise or pay the compensation Turkey is seeking, saying it would harm Israel's international standing, an official said. Elsewhere, Netanyahu said that during a visit to Washington next week for talks with US President Barack Obama he will discuss Iran's nuclear programme and peace talks with the Palestinians.