国际英语新闻：Turkish PM reiterates demand for Israel's apology, compensation

ANKARA, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday reiterated that Israel should apologize and make compensation for the deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla before the bilateral ties thaws.

As long as Israel does not meet Turkey's demands, nobody shall expect a normalization in Turkish-Israeli relations, the semi- official Anatolia news agency quoted Erdogan as saying at a joint press conference with visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

Turkey and Israel, the long time allies, saw ties strained after Israel navy's raid against the flotilla on May 31, killing nine Turkish activists.

Turkey sent two fire-fighting planes last week to help Israel fight its worst-ever forest fire which claimed more than 40 people and raged an area of 70 square kilometers.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu then called Erdogan in the day and expressed his appreciation, which was regarded as a step for the two countries to mend fences.

Turkey would never turn down anybody who wants to fix relations in a friendly manner and seek peace and normalization of relations, Turkish government spokesman Cemil Cicek was quoted by Anatolia as saying Monday, when referring to Turkish-Israeli ties.