Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel will defend its soldiers, accused by Turkey of unlawfully murdering its citizens aboard a Gaza-bound flotilla, "in every forum." "We need not apologize for the fact that naval commandos defended their lives against an assault by violent IHT activists," Netanyahu said at Sunday's regular Cabinet meeting, in addressing the release of the U.N.'s Palmer Report on Israel's May 2010 boarding of the Turkish-flagged ship Mavi Marmara. "We need not apologize for …More

Hebrew daily "Ma'ariv" reports that, in a new effort to repair relations with Turkey, Israel is offering $100,000 to the families each of the nine dead on the Mavi Marmara during the Gaza flotilla incident in May 2010. In exchange, Turkey will rescind its demand for an apology by Israel over the incident, and accept a statement that Israel deeply regrets the deaths. The offer was made informally. Turkey has not yet responded to the offer. The new offer is double Israel's original offer of $50,000 to the families …More