Turkish Group Planning New Attempt to Break Israel's Blockade of Gaza

ulent Yildirim, the
president of the IHH, the
Turkish Islamic aid group
that organized a Gaza-
bound flotilla last May,
speaks to the media in
Istanbul, Turkey, Jan. 24,
2011 (file photo)
Last May, Israeli forces
killed nine Turkish citizens
trying to break the Israeli
sea blockade of the Gaza
strip. The killings resulted
in relations hitting rock
bottom between these
former close allies. Now
a new crisis is looming.
With the anniversary of
the deaths approaching,
another attempt is being
planned to break Israel's
blockade.
Last year's killings saw
nationwide protests in
Turkey. The nine Turkish
citizens were killed on the
Turkish ship the "Mavi
Marmara," which was
part of a flotilla of ships
seeking to break Israel's
economic blockade of the
Gaza strip. One year
later, the main
organizers of last year's
voyage, the Turkish-
based Foundation for
Human Rights, Freedoms
and Humanitarian Relief,
or IHH, is preparing a
new blockade-busting
voyage.
The Leader of the IHH is
Bulent Yildirim, who said
they are getting the flotilla
ready and that there will
be a ship from every
country in Europe.
Yildirim said the "Mavi
Marmara" from Turkey
will be part of it, and until
the blockade is lifted on
Gaza, the intifada will
continue by land, by sea
and by air.
Cooled relations
Last year's killing of
Turkish citizens by Israeli
forces, who maintain
they were acting in self
defense, saw relations
between Israel and
Turkey - former close
allies - reach a crisis
point. Almost 12 months
later, there has been little
improvement, with the
Turkish government
demanding compensation
for the victims and
apologies, something
Israel refuses to do.
The prospect of a new
flotilla caused Israeli
ambassador Gaby Levy
to call on the Turkish
government to stop it.
Senior Turkish diplomat
Selim Yenel said there is
little they can do.
"Its not a government
act, we are doing our
best to avoid any kind of
tension," said Yenel. "In
the end it's an NGO (non
governmental agency).
As we could not prevent
the first one, I don't think
we can prevent the
second one either. So we
will, of course, if the
flotilla sets sail, we will
again be asking them to
be prudent, but I think
prudence is something
Israelis should have to do
much more.