“IDF Radio" (Galei Zahal) reports that about 40 Israelis who arrived at Istanbul Ataturk Airport this morning were detained for questioning by the authorities. The Israelis, passengers on a Turkish Airlines flight from Ben Gurion Airport, were separated from the other passengers, their passports were taken, and they were questioned for about 90 minutes. Most of the Israeli passengers were businesspeople.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in response that the Turkish government was unaware of the incident.
The Turkish media report that Turkish tourists who arrived in Israel yesterday were detained and questioned, but the reports have no official confirmation.
Israeli-Turkish relations have sharply deteriorated following the publication of the UN Palmer report on Friday. The report says that Israel's blockade on Gaza is legitimate, but that Israel used excessive force in taking over the Mavi Marmara ship that was trying to break the blockade. Turkey subsequently expelled Israel's ambassador in Ankara, suspended all military agreements, and threatened to increase its naval presence in the eastern Mediterranean.
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