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Turkey expels Israeli ambassador and cut ties, after Gaza Flotilla refusal

Turkey expelled Israel’s ambassador and said Friday it is cutting military ties with the country over its refusal to apologize for last year’s raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla that killed nine people.

Turkey’s move came before the anticipated publication Friday of a U.N. report on violence aboard a Gaza-bound protest flotilla. The fatalities included eight Turkish nationals and one Turkish-American activist.

Turkey has made an Israeli apology a condition of improving diplomatic ties. Israeli officials say the report does not demand an Israeli apology, establishing instead that Israel should express regret and pay reparations.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the government was downgrading diplomatic ties with Israel to the level of second secretary and that the ambassador and other high-level diplomats would leave the capital Ankara by Wednesday.

He said all military agreements signed between the former allies were also being suspended. Other sanctions against its former ally would include possible naval restrictions in the eastern Mediterranean as well as Turkish state backing for flotilla victims families’ court actions against Israel, Davutoglu said.

“The time has come for Israel to pay for its stance that sees it above international laws and disregards human conscience,” Davutoglu said. “The first and foremost result is that Israel is going to be devoid of Turkey’s friendship.”

“As long as the Israeli government does not take the necessary steps, there will be no turning back,” the minister said.

The Turkish decision increases Israel’s isolation at a sensitive time.

The collapse of Israel’s relationship with Turkey comes as it faces turmoil in ties with another longtime regional ally, Egypt, where longtime leader Hosni Mubarak was deposed earlier this year and where there have been growing calls to revoke the three-decade-old Egypt-Israel peace agreement.

It also comes as Israel seeks to muster international support against an attempt by the Palestinians to have their state recognized at the U.N. later this month.

Israeli officials would not immediately comment on the Turkish decision.