Flotilla Raid: Turkey Expels Ambassador

Turkey has expelled its Israeli ambassador over the country's refusal to apologise for last year's raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla that killed nine Turks.

Sky's foreign affairs editor Tim Marshall said the move was sparked by the imminent publication of a 500-page UN report on the flotilla attack.

Marshall said: "The report has two very important findings.

"What has gone down badly with the Palestinians is that the UN report says Israel's naval blockade of Gaza is legal because it is being attacked.

"But it also says Israel's use of force against the flotilla, which was trying to reach Gaza to break the blockade, was excessive.

"Added to that, the Israelis have always refused to apologise to the Turks for the nine deaths and this has caused relations between the two countries to fall apart.

"The longer-term effect is the real meaning of the story. Turkey is bidding to be the biggest power in the Middle East, and you can't do that if you have very good relations with Israel, so the expelling of the ambassador has to be seen in that context."

Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the government was downgrading diplomatic ties with Israel and the ambassador would leave the capital Ankara by Wednesday.

"The time has come for Israel to pay for its stance that sees it above international laws and disregards human conscience," he said.

"The first and foremost result is that Israel is going to be devoid of Turkey's friendship. As long as the Israeli government does not take the necessary steps, there will be no turning back."

The nine pro-Palestinian activists were killed aboard the Turkish-flagged ship Mavi Marmara on May 31, 2010, after passengers resisted a takeover by Israeli naval commandos.

The flotilla was en route to Gaza in an attempt to bring international attention to Israel's blockade of the Palestinian territory.

The former legal adviser to Israel's foreign ministry, Alan Baker, said it was tragic that lives had been lost, but there was no need for an apology.

He told Sky News: "Why does Israel have to apologise for protecting itself and conducting a perfectly legitimate blockade, and when the Turks - including the Turkish government - were involved in trying to break the blockade?"