Israel and Turkey, Close to Ending Conflict Though Semantics Still At Issue

The seven-month conflict between Turkey and Israel is drawing to an end as the Turkish government is preparing the content of the memo by which Israel will offer their official apology to Turkey for the incident in May when the Israeli Defense Forces killed 9 Turkish nationals in a raid on Mavi Marmara, a Turkish-flagged ship that was heading toward Gaza Strip.

Semantics are the only thing that stand between two old friends: Erdogan wishes Israel to use the word “apologize,” while Israel would feel more comfortable to use “regret.”

Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was briefed today in his office by the undersecretary of Turkish Foreign Ministry about the discussion held with Israel UN envoy in Geneva earlier this week.

According to Turkish daily Hurriyet, former Turkish ambassador to Israel, acting as ambassador to the United States, is holding talks with his counterpart Michael Oren, ambassador of Israel to the United States.

It is not clear yet whether Erdogan gave his accord for the meetings to continue, but sources spoke of more meetings that are to be held so that a resolution may be made.

Israel refuses to use the word “apologize” considering that the action the Israeli navy took that day was legitimate and within international law. However, the Israeli authorities are willing to express their regret for the loss of lives in that incident.

Hurriyet reports that another source of dissension between the two countries is to whom should Israel apologize (or express regrets): While Israel wants the message to be “humanitarian,” by expressing regrets to the families of those who died on Mavi Marmara, Erdogan wants Israel to apologize to the Turkish republic.

The compensations to the families seem to be agreed upon, given that they are part of the “humanitarian” act.

Yesterday, Israeli Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman said Israel should make no apology for what happened in May. Israeli PM chose to refrain from any comment on Lieberman’s opposition.

Earlier this week, President of Turkey Abdullah Gul received the President of Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas, who came to ask Turkey to recognize the new state of Palestine and, furthermore, to convince other states in Europe to follow suit.

What will the President of Turkey do? How will that affect the new found friendship between the two states? Does this unilateral gesture of Palestinians have any bearing in the sudden thaw of mutual ties?