Yaalon, who has had closed-door talks with Turkish officials on ways to restore relations in the past weeks, called Turkey's request for a formal apology over the 2010 raid “rude.” “There was a provocation here that the Turkish government is also responsible for,” Yaalon told Israel Radio on Monday, Jerusalem Post's website jpost.com reported. “It wasn't our side that spoiled relations, and I expect they will not [restore diplomatic relations] even after the apology.”
His statement came the day after he attended a meeting of key Cabinet ministers to discuss the publication of a UN report on last year's raid. The meeting, according to reports in the Israeli media, was inconclusive on whether to offer Turkey an apology. Yaalon, along with hawkish Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, are known to be ardent opponents of an apology.
The UN report's release has been postponed several times amid disagreements over the wording of the text and expectations for a Turkish-Israeli agreement on a formula to restore their ties, which could render publication of the UN report unnecessary. It is expected to criticize Israel for the way it handled the interception of the ship, which was carrying humanitarian aid to the blockaded Gaza Strip, while agreeing with Israel that its blockade of Gaza is legal.
