Obama warned Erdogan flotilla probe could be bad for Turkey
Monday, July 5, 2010
By: ICEJ News

Israeli cabinet expands powers of internal inquiry panel

US President Barack Obama recently warned Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that his insistence on an international probe into Israel's interception of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in late May could end up backfiring on Turkey, the London Arabic-language daily al-Hayat reported Saturday.

Obama warned Erdogan that an international probe demanded by Turkey could lead to accusations against the passengers on board the Turkish-flagged Mavi Marmara, some of whom were members of the radical Muslim group IHH.

Meantime, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has threatened to cut all diplomatic and military ties with Israel unless it issues a formal apology for the deaths of nine Turkish citizens during the May 31 flotilla incident. But he conceded that Turkey would be content with an admission “that the raid was unjust” if Israel insists on proceeding with its own internal investigation – an indication Obama’s warning may have had an impact on Ankara.

On Sunday, the Israeli cabinet approved a broadening of the authority granted to the internal Terkel Commission appointed to probe the IDF’s seizure of the Gaza flotilla ships. The committee will now be allowed to subpoena witnesses to testify as well as documents, among other expanded powers. The Terkel Commission will start its inquiry from the “top” and will first question the top Israeli commanders.

In related news, the Turkish Defense Ministry canceled yet another joint exercise with the IDF over the weekend, this time a joint naval search-and-rescue exercise called “Reliant Mermaid” which has been a cornerstone of US, Israeli and Turkish military ties for the last ten years. The drill will proceed with the US and Israeli navies both sending men, aircraft and ships.

Meanwhile, a recent meeting of influential Muslim scholars in Doha, Qatar praised Turkey for its efforts on behalf of the Palestinians and urged Muslims to take vacations in Turkey to compensate the country for the estimated $400 million in losses which Turkish tourism officials project they will suffer this year from canceled Israeli vacationers.

After Israel intercepted the Turkish flotilla, tourists from the Arab Gulf countries increased their bookings to Turkey by 20% in two days, claimed one tourism specialist.