Palestinian Ambassador in Ankara Nebil Maruf said that the Israeli apology to Turkey, over the fatal Israeli raid on Mavi Marmara aid ship back in May 2010 in which nine Turks were killed, was \"a definite victory of the Turkish government\". Speaking to the Anadolu Agency (AA) in Mersin where he came to attend an event of the Arab League, Ambassador Maruf underlined that the people of Palestine considered Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a strong leader and a brother of Palestine. The Palestinians are waiting to welcome Erdogan to Palestine, Maruf stated. \"We can claim that we are free when we begin controlling our borders. We will keep struggling until this happens,\" Maruf said. \"What is crucial in the region is the US. The US controls the whole region and gives 100 percent support to Israel and protects Israel. As such, the problem here is one between the US and Palestine. The problem is not Israel,\" Maruf also said.