Erdogan: “Israeli” Policies Greatly Undermine Peace and Stability in MEA

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that "Israeli" policies greatly undermine peace and stability in the Middle East. 

In an exclusive interview with Doha-based Al Sharq newspaper on Tuesday,
Erdogan added that "Israeli" policies constitute a major obstacle to the promotion of tranquility and security across the region and have led to serious repercussions, such as its deadly attack on the Gaza-bound Freedom flotilla aid convoy, the Palestinian Information Center reported.

On May 31, 2010, nine Turkish activists aboard the aid flotilla were killed when "Israeli" military forces opened fire on them in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

The Turkish premier also pointed out that the UN Human Rights Council's fact-finding mission confirmed Tel Aviv's responsibility for the attack in a September 2010 report.

"I think that the UN fact-finding committee will also affirm that there is no country above the law," Erdogan noted. The Turkish prime minister added that his country will never give up its demands for an official apology by the "Israeli" regime as well as financial compensations for the murder of its nationals aboard the Gaza-bound flotilla.

He also called for an end to the ongoing Gaza siege and condemned the blockade of the coastal enclave as a form of "collective punishment."