Turkish Headlines: Israel caved in

A day after UN announces establishment of commission of inquiry into deadly flotilla raid, Turkish media relish decision, say 'Israel has folded', 'waved white flag'

Ynet

Published:  08.03.10, 10:09 / Israel News

Turkish media headlines on Tuesday gloated over Israel's agreement to cooperate with the Unites Nations' investigation into May's deadly Navy raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla.

"Israel has waved a white flag," read the headline of the popular Hurriyet newspaper. "Israel has folded," exclaimed Sabah daily, while Turkiye newspaper stressed that it was the first time Israelhas agreed to a UN investigation into a military-related matter.

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Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Monday lauded United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's decision to establish a UN-appointed committee to probe the flotilla incident in which eight Turkish citizens and an American of Turkish descent were killed. "It was a crime pertaining to international law, which should be investigated by the international community," he said.

According to Turkey's official news agency, Prime Minister Erdogan called Davutoglu on Monday, prior to the UN secretary-general's announcement, and asked him to follow the investigation closely.

Erdogan also noted that Turkey was not giving up on its other demands –  that Israel issue an apology for the incident, and that it grant compensation to those injured in the incident, as well as the victims' families.

Ban announced Monday that the panel would be led by former Prime Minister of New Zealand Geoffrey Palmer as chair and outgoing President of Colombia Alvaro Uribe as vice chair.

The Panel will have two additional members, one each from Israel and Turkey. It will begin its work on August 10 and submit the first progress report by mid September. In addition, the panel will receive reports from Israel's independent commission of inquiry – the Turkel Committee.

Following his conversation with Ban on Monday, Netanyahu said that "Israel has nothing to hide. Quite the opposite: The State of Israel's national interest is to ensure that the factual truth on the entire raid incident will be known to the world."

Sources in Jerusalem stressed that the UN-appointed panel will not investigate Israeli civilian or military sources, but would rather have to rely on documents, and at the most will question elements in the leadership.