Turkish PM: 'Israel Must Pay Price For Raid'

Turkey's prime minister has told an Arab League meeting that Israel must "pay the price" for its raid on an aid ship heading for Gaza last year.

Tayyip Erdogan made the comments after Israel refused to apologise for the attack on the flotilla in June of last year.

Mr Erdogan said: "It (Israel) acts irresponsibly and without hesitation in smashing the human dignity and international law by carrying assaults on international convoys which carry nothing but food and toys for children."

Such assaults, "threaten the Israeli nation," he said. "The Israeli people became a besieged nation."

Nine people were killed when Israeli troops boarded a vessel headed for Gaza, an act for which Israel has since expressed regret.

But the country also defended its raid on the flotilla, saying its troops were attacked by passengers as they boarded and were defending themselves.

A subsequent inquiry by the UN into the incident found the military had broken international law and had acted with 'incredible violence'.

Relations between Turkey and Israel broke down following the incident, and Turkey broke military ties with the country, expelled top Israeli diplomats and pledged to support the Palestinians' statehood bid.

It also vowed to send the Turkish navy to escort Gaza-bound aid ships in the future.

Prime minister Erdogan is in Egypt on a three day visit and has so far been given a warm reception.

During his 30-minute speech, he was interrupted several times by foreign ministers' applause.

Relations between Egypt and Israel have deteriorated since the downfall of the Mubarak regime.

Israel's ambassador was forced to flee Egypt after protesters raided the embassy in Cairo.