Obama speaks to Erdogan over Israeli raid
In telephone call with Turkish prime minister, US president reiterates support for 'credible, impartial, and transparent investigation of the facts surrounding this tragedy'
US President Barack Obama spoke with Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday to express his condolences for those killed in an Israeli raid on a Turkish aid ship bound for Gaza, the White House said.
Turkey, a key ally of the United States, has reacted angrily to Monday's raid in which nine people were killed when Israeli commandos stormed the ship. It had been trying to break an Israeli blockade on Gaza.
The White House said in his telephone call with Erdogan, Obama had reiterated the United States' support for "a credible, impartial, and transparent investigation of the facts surrounding this tragedy."
"The president affirmed the importance of finding better ways to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza without undermining Israel's security," the White House said in a statement.
A cautious White House said earlier Tuesday that it supports a UN Security Council resolution calling for an investigation into the deadly raid, but stopped short of condemning the actions of Israeli forces.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the predawn raid on international waters, which left at least nine people dead, does nothing to change the "trusted relationship" between the US and Israel.
"We are greatly supportive of their security," Gibbs told reporters Tuesday. "That's not going to change."
Gibbs said the US backs the Security Council's call for "a credible investigation, including international participation."
