Turkey suspends military, trade ties with Israel

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan has announced "complete suspension" of all military and trade cooperation with Israel. He also said there would be "new retaliatory measures toward Israel", but did not provide any other details. Turkey suspends military, trade ties with Israel At the same time, said the Turkish premier, he was considering traveling to the Gaza Strip to meet with Palestinians under Israeli blockade. Erdogan plans a trip to the neighboring Egypt on September 12. "We are still talking to the Egyptian side. For now nothing has been decided," he was quoted as saying. On September 2, Turkey expelled Israel's ambassador, suspended implementation of military agreements and announced it would sue Israel for imposing the blockade of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip to the International Court of Justice. The latest deterioration in relations between the two former regional allies came after the United Nations published its report into the raid of a Turkish ship that took place in June 2010. Turkey rejected the report, which said that Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip was legal, but that when the country's military attempted to prevent the Turkish vessel from violating that blockade, they used excessive force. Nine Turks, pro-Palestinian activists, died when they confronted Israeli naval commandos on board one of the ships in a flotilla headed for Gaza. Israel has in the meantime rejected Turkish demands to apologize for the incident.

Turkey suspends military, trade ties with Israel

At the same time, said the Turkish premier, he was considering traveling to the Gaza Strip to meet with Palestinians under Israeli blockade.

Erdogan plans a trip to the neighboring Egypt on September 12.

"We are still talking to the Egyptian side. For now nothing has been decided," he was quoted as saying.

On September 2, Turkey expelled Israel's ambassador, suspended implementation of military agreements and announced it would sue Israel for imposing the blockade of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip to the International Court of Justice.

The latest deterioration in relations between the two former regional allies came after the United Nations published its report into the raid of a Turkish ship that took place in June 2010.

Turkey rejected the report, which said that Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip was legal, but that when the country's military attempted to prevent the Turkish vessel from violating that blockade, they used excessive force.

Nine Turks, pro-Palestinian activists, died when they confronted Israeli naval commandos on board one of the ships in a flotilla headed for Gaza.

Israel has in the meantime rejected Turkish demands to apologize for the incident.