Israeli PM Cancels White House Meeting
VOA News 31 May 2010
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has canceled plans to meet with U.S. President Barack Obama following a deadly naval raid that killed at least 10 pro-Palestinian activists.
Mr. Netantyahu, who is in Canada, was scheduled to travel to Washington Tuesday for talks with Mr. Obama. But his office says he will cut short his visit to Canada and return to Israel early.
At least 10 passengers were killed, and dozens of others were injured, when Israeli commandos stormed the flotilla, which was led by a Turkish ship early Monday morning in international waters, about 60 kilometers off the coast of Israel.
Israeli military officials initially reported a higher death toll. Israel says that seven soldiers were also wounded in the violence.
Israeli Government Spokesman Mark Regev says the activists had weapons and were prepared to attack the commandos when they came aboard the ship. But representatives of the Free Gaza Movement, which organized the flotilla, described the raid as an attack on civilians saying the activists had no violent intentions.
Turkey has recalled its ambassador from Israel, called for an emergency session of the U.N. Security Council and canceled three planned military exercises with Israel in protest over the incident.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry called the Israeli operation "unacceptable" and warned it could lead to "irreparable consequences" in relations between the two countries.
Meanwhile in the Turkish capital, some 10,000 Turks marched in protest from the Israeli consulate in Istanbul to the main square in protests of the raid.
The aid ships, carrying more than 600 pro-Palestinian activists and 10,000 tons of supplies, left for Gaza Sunday and defied a radio warning from the Israeli navy not to approach the region.
Organizers from the Free Gaza Movement and a Turkish human rights group said the convoy was carrying medical supplies as well as cement and other building materials, which Israel has banned from entering Gaza because of what it says are security concerns.
Israel has taken the ships to a nearby port to begin deportation procedures for the activists. It says that after inspection, the humanitarian aid will be transferred to Gaza by land.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
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