It will understand the extent of this mistake much better in the future. There is no doubt that Turkey will never forgive such an attack on its own citizens and on a Turkish ship in international waters. It [Turkey] absolutely will do, albeit rationally, what needs to be done in return.”
Noting that the attack had caused widespread reaction worldwide, the president said it was important that the UN Security Council unanimously voted to condemn the attack and decided to set up an independent investigatory commission to look into the incident. “This commission will in no way be a commission set up by Israeli authorities. There is no possibility that we would accept such a commission,” he said.
He also said relations between the two countries would never again be the same. “After this point, Turkish-Israeli relations will never be as they were before. If Israel understands the gravity of the mistake it has made and compensates for this openly, in a way that can be accepted, perhaps the current situation could be overcome. But it is obvious that relations will never be as they were previously.”
Gül said Israel’s government was becoming a burden for its own people. In response to a question on his forecast of how the attack would influence the Mideast peace process, Gül said the issue was not between Turkey and Israel but between humanity and Israel. “The policy they are pursuing is darkening their future. These are important words for those who will listen to them. I am not trying to make populist statements. These words should be evaluated thoroughly by everyone, particularly by Israelis and US authorities.”
