Violation of international laws by Israel has resulted in its losing Turkey as a strategic ally, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in South Africa on Wednesday, Trend reports.
Erdogan urged the world community to stop Israel’s aggressive policy. The crisis in Israeli-Turkish relations is not a result of Ankara’s policy aimed at formation of a Palestinian state, the prime minister noted.
Turkey and Israel broke ties after the Israeli attack on Turkey’s Freedom Flotilla on 31 May 2010. The flotilla was heading to the Gaza Strip with humanitarian cargo. Ankara demanded apologies from Israel and that compensation be made to the families of nine Turks killed in the attack. Israel refused to apologize. Turkey announced that its ties with Israel became secondary in September. Ankara froze military cooperation with Israel and recalled its ambassador.
