The U.N. committee investigating the events of the 2010 Gaza flotilla has determined that Israel Defense Forces actions to stop it from reaching the Gaza Strip were legal, according to Israeli diplomatic officials who read a draft of the report issued to both Turkey and Israel a few weeks ago. According to the officials, while the report determines that Israel may have used excessive force during the operation, it does not require an Israeli apology to Turkey or compensation to the families of the victims. The report assigns direct responsibility for the incident to IHH, the Turkish Islamist organization that organized the flotilla, and criticizes the Turkish government for enabling, and even encouraging, the flotilla. The report even praises Israel for appointing an external probe, while Turkey appointed only a governmental committee of inquiry. The report was written by a committee led by former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer, and was originally scheduled to be presented to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday, but its submission has been postponed. While the official reason for the delay is that the secretary general is out of town, Israeli diplomats believe the real reason is a desire to avoid derailing ongoing discussions between Israel and Turkey on a reconciliation between the two states. Vice Prime Minister Moshe (Bogey) Yaalon is currently in New York holding meetings with Turkish officials. The two sides have agreed to continue discussions on normalizing relations between the two countries. Yaalon rejected a Turkish demand for an official apology, saying Israel would be willing to express regret, but would not be willing to apologize under any circumstances. Such an apology, he said, would mean Israel's acceptance of responsibility for the outcome. Turkey is demanding additional compensation to the families of the Marmara victims. Israel, for its part, is willing to transfer a sum of money to Turkey for the establishment of a compensation fund, but refuses to directly pay families whose relatives attacked IDF soldiers. Both the United Nations and Israel want good relations with Turkey, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday at a press conference held during a diplomatic visit to Romania. We noticed that Turkey did not participate in efforts to organize this years flotilla, and we have seen other signs that may enable further attempts for rapprochement between us. Foreign Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman also resolutely rejected the demand for an Israeli apology. Israel has expressed its willingness for a compromise, but not for the humiliation or disrespect of IDF soldiers, Lieberman told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Wednesday.
