RAMALLAH, July 25 (JMCC) - The United Nations has once again delayed a report on last year's flotilla incident, after Israel asked for more time for diplomacy with Turkey,
reports Haaretz, citing an Israeli government official.
The report was slated for release on July 27 and was cited as largely exonerating Israel in its blockade of the Gaza Strip.
The official said that the UN report on Israel's seizure of a Turkish ship that participated in last year's Gaza flotilla was due to be published next Wednesday, but following an Israeli request, its release date was delayed by another three weeks to August 20.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak already hinted Saturday that the UN report will be delayed. I hope we do not need to discuss it this week and we will be given more time to examine the issues in depth, he said.
A forum of the eight senior-most Israeli ministers was due to meet in Jerusalem on Sunday to decide whether to accept the draft of an agreement aimed at ending the diplomatic crisis with Turkey. However on Sunday afternoon, the ministers were told the subject was changed and the meeting will cover regular defense issues.
Relations between Israel and Turkey have soured since Israel's war on Gaza in late 2008. Nine Turkish nationals were killed when Israeli commandos intercepted a flotilla bound to break the blockade of Gaza.