The government of Prime Minister Recep Erdogan of Turkey announced today that it would expel Israel’s Ambassador in Ankara and suspend all military agreements with Israel for the May 31, 2010, flotilla incident where eight Turkish nationals and one American-Turkish man died aboard the Mavi Marmara. The men died when Israeli commandos forcefully entered the ship after repeated and unanswered warnings to not enter Israeli waters without permission. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has has long demanded an Israeli apology over the incident. The Israeli Government has insisted that no apology would be made “for actions of self defense taken by soldiers.”

Foreign Minister Davutoglu told a news conference in Ankara, “Turkey-Israel diplomatic relations have been reduced to a second secretary level. All personnel above the second secretary level will be sent home by Wednesday at the latest.” Turkey’s announcement came one day after the United Nations issued its report, called The Palmer Report, on the incident calling the force by Turkey “excessive” but “legitimate”. Geoffrey Palmer, a former Prime Minister of New Zealand is the lead author of the investigation. Palmer has delayed the report three times after hearing criticisms from both sides.

Recep Erdogan has been Prime Minister of Turkey since 2003 when his party, the Justice and Development Party, won a landslide victory in the 2002 parliamentary elections. Erdogan has faced criticism from some secular Turks for what they consider to be his Islamist agenda. Turkey has been a member of NATO since 1949 and the Turkish military is considered to the protector of secular Turkey. Relations between Erdogan and military have been strained over the years as rumors of coup attempts have surfaced.

The Palmer report’s ruling that Israel was legally correct in its blockade of Gaza is a huge win for Israel. The UN has traditionally been hostile to Israel so the ruling is of particular importance given the source. Regardless of what the UN says, Israel is correct to use all means necessary to protect its border, especially given the consistent rocket attacks coming from Gaza. The Palmer report also puts pressure on the Palestinian President and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas and his partner Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, who’s Islamist political party controls Gaza. Fatah and Hamas must be able to work together and renounce all violence in order to get the international political respect they desire and need. As for Turkey’s Erdogan, his move to kick out Israel’s Ambassador and suspend all military activities with Israel will be used as further evidence that he is moving Turkey toward Islamic fundamentalism and away from the West. Erdogan’s move will also be a signal to the European Union that Turkey isn’t ready to be a full member and to NATO that its only Muslim member is at odds with its own military.