Netanyahu rules out apology to Turkey over flotilla

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday ruled out making an apology to Turkey over an Israeli military raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla that killed eight Turks and one American of Turkish descent,
the Turkish news agency Hurriyet reports.

"We will not apologize, but express our regrets to Turkey," the Israeli leader said in an interview with the private television network Channel 10.

"We don't want our soldiers to be possibly hauled before international tribunals. ... Our soldiers acted in accordance with standards," he said, stressing an apology could be interpreted as an admission of
liability.

Netanyahu's comments came a day after Israel's right-wing Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman vowed Tel Aviv would not apologize to Turkey for the May 31 commando raid.