Turkey has 'Plan B,' wants apology

ANKARA, Turkey, July 25 (UPI) -- Turkey has threatened to downgrade its relationship with Israel if it fails to apologize for last year's Mavi Marmara incident that left nine people dead.

The Turkish government said unless Israel apologies by July 27 it would launch a "Plan B," which would freeze further relations between the two countries,Turkey's Hurriyet Daily News reported.

Israeli soldiers boarded the passenger ship Mavi Marmara May 31, 2010, as it headed for Gaza to deliver food and other aid. Nine Turkish activists on the ship were killed.

"We are going to wait for their [Israel's] decision for a period of time. Then [if no apology comes], we will surely implement our Plan B," Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday in Ankara at a joint news conference with Jordanian Prime Minister Maroof al-Bakhit.

The announcement came a day before the Israeli Cabinet was to hold a meeting about the incident.

Turkey also demanded that Israel, in addition to issuing a formal apology, pay compensation to families of victims of the 2010 incident and lift its sea blockage on Gaza.

Haaretz said another part of Erdogan's backup plan is a personal visit to Gaza, which was delayed last week in hopes Israel would apologize.

The United Nations said Monday it would delay the release of its report on the May 31 incident to allow Israel and Turkey more time to negotiate an agreement.