Turkish PM renews his warning to Israel

The Turkish Prime Minister has warned Israel once again that his country would not sit by and let the Jewish state do as it pleased in the Mediterranean, the latest salvo in a major diplomatic crisis between the two countries. Recep Erdogan spoke during a visit to Tunisia, where he met with his Tunisian counterpart Beji Caid Essebsi and expressed his support for Palestinian efforts to gain statehood. The Turkish leader was traveling from Cairo, where he received a hero''s warm welcome from foreign ministers at the Arab League. Erdogan reaffirmed that his country''s relations with Israel would not come back to normal unless israeli apologizes and pays compensations for the nine Turks killed aboard the Mavi Marmara in June last year. Relations between former allies Israel and Turkey soured following an Israeli commando raid in June 2010 on a Turkish boat containing pro-Palestinian activists, resulting in the death of nine Turkish citizens, including one U.S. dual national. Angered by Israel''s refusal to apologize over the deaths, Turkey suspended military ties with Israel, expelled top Israeli diplomats and vowed to send the Turkish navy to escort Gaza-bound aid ships in the future. "Israel cannot do as it pleases in the Mediterranean," said Erdogan, adding that Turkey was committed to preserving the freedom of navigation in international waters. "We are determined to do so, because we all live in the Mediterranean." Erdogan has dramatically stepped up Turkey''s influence in the Middle East as the region is swept by revolts and uprisings. At the same time, many Arabs have cheered his increasingly confrontational stance against Israel. The prime minister dismissed any plans to normalize relations with Israel until it apologized, compensated the victims and lifted the blockade of Gaza. For his part, Beji Caid Essebsi affirmed that his country''s ties of cooperation with Turkey would be more flourishing between the two sides and will cover all economic, political and touristic areas. Erdogan arrived here earlier last night from Cairo , for a two-day visit to Tunisia, the second leg of his arab spring tour and which will also take him to Libya.