Turkey will block Israel from participating in a NATO summit next month because the Jewish state has not responded for the killing of Turks who attacked Israeli naval officers boarding the illegal flotilla Mavi Marmara in May 2010.
Nine Turks were killed by naval commandos, when they attacked and began beating the soldiers as they attempted to board the ship to prevent it from illegally entering Israel’s waters as part of a protest effort to reach Gaza. Seven Israeli soldiers were injured by the attacking demonstrators.
Since then, relations between Turkey and Israel have rapidly declined, with Turkey expelling the Israeli envoy and discontinuing military cooperation.
Turkey has demanded an official apology for the incident, as well as financial compensation.
A Turkish official told Reuters that while Israel is a member of the NATO alliance, “we deem it not appropriate for Israel to be around,” until it concedes to Turkish demands.