Turkey slams Israeli 'state terrorism'

Turkey's prime minister has again accused Israel of "state terrorism" and called on the Jewish state to apologize and compensate victims of a raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "the Israeli government must apologize and compensate (victims) for the state terrorism in the Mediterranean."

He was addressing members of his Islamic-oriented party at a weekend retreat Saturday.

Eight Turks and one person with American and Turkish nationality were killed in the May 31 raid on a ship carrying pro-Palestinian activists trying to breach Israel's naval blockade of Gaza.

Peres refuses to apologize

Relations between the two former allies have been deteriorating since Israel's Gaza war and hit a low point after the raid.

Last month, Turkish President Abdullah Gul refused to meet with President Shimon Peres in New York. The Turkish leader said that "we will not forgive Israel for those killed in the Israeli attack on the aid flotilla, even if Israel apologizes." His remarks were quoted by Turkey's official Anatolia news agency.

According to Israeli sources, the meeting was thwarted due Peres' refusal to apologize for the deadly Navy raid. The sources said the Turks demanded the apology as a condition for holding meeting.

Yitzhak Benhorin contributed to the report

• Follow Ynetnews on Facebook