Israel's leading newspaper, Yediot Aharonot, reported that Ankara
prevented a plane with Israeli military officers from entering Turkish air
space. The 100 officers had been on their way from Israel to Poland on a
visit to Holocaust memorial sites in late June, Middle East Newsline reported.
So far, officials said, Ankara has rejected two Israeli requests to
enter Turkish air space. They said Erdogan has not ordered a blanket
prohibition on the entry of Israeli aircraft.
"The ban is about military flights," the Turkish daily Hurriyet, quoting
diplomatic sources, reported on June 28. "Civilian flights are not affected.
Each request will be analyzed case by case."
For his part, Erdogan, who attended the G-20 meeting in Toronto, Canada,
has warned of additional Turkish sanctions on Israel. The prime minister has
demanded an Israeli apology as well as an international inquiry into the
Israel Navy interception of the Turkish-flagged Hava Marmara, in which nine
people were killed in a clash between Islamists and naval commandos.
"We have been very patient in the face of these developments," Erdogan
said.