JERUSALEM, June 14 (UPI) -- The Turkish charity group that organizes flotillas for Gaza has told Turkish Jews it will allow international inspection of its vessels, ynetnews.com reported.
The report said sources in the Jewish community in Istanbul say leaders of the IHH group approached them asking that a message be sent to Israel saying flotilla organizers are not interested in a violent clash with the Israeli military. The request was reported by Yedioth Ahronoth Tuesday.
Ynetnews said senior elements in the Turkish Jewish community conveyed the message to Israeli representatives.
IHH proposes the vessels taking part in the upcoming flotilla be checked by an international team in a third country such as Cyprus. Then the ships would be allowed to head for Gaza if the they are carrying nothing but humanitarian aid.
Ynetnews said Israel considers the IHH a terror organization and doesn't negotiate with it directly. Israel is trying to reach an understanding with the Turkish government before the flotilla arrives, the report said.
An Israeli raid on a flotilla headed for Gaza in May 2010 led to the deaths of nine activists -- eight Turkish nationals and a Turkish-American.
