Says Turkey did not take Israel’s warnings seriously
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was the first witness to testify at a state-appointed inquiry Monday into the Israeli military’s raid of an aid flotilla bound for Gaza, which left nine Turkish pro-Palestinian activists dead. Netanyahu said Turkey had ignored warnings and appeals “at the highest level” many days before the fatal clash. “Beginning on May 14, my office held contacts with the highest levels of the Turkish government,” Netanyahu said. “Despite our continuous diplomatic efforts, ultimately the Turkish government did not prevent the attempt by the Marmara to violate the naval blockade… It appears that (Turkey) did not see in the prospect of a clash between Turkish activists and Israel something that clashed with its interests.” This has been the Prime Minister’s most explicit public comment of the diplomatic efforts that failed to avert the clash.