Stubborn or Just Ungrateful

 
Despite Israel sending aid to Turkey's earthquake victims, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said their beef still stands.

By COLlive reporter

"Yashar koach, now gei faifen."

If Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutohlu knew any Yiddish, that would have been the translation of his ungrateful message to Israel on Thursday.

In a press conference in Jordan, Davutoglu said Turkey-Israel relations will not benefit from the latter's humanitarian aid shipment to the victims of the devastating earthquake which hit Turkey's southeast on Sunday.

Israel so far delivered 7 portable homes, blankets, coats and mattresses shortly after Turkey said it was ready to accept foreign help. Israel intends to send additional structures in the coming days.

Instead of saying thank you, Davutoglu told reporters: "Just because Israel is helping us does not mean that we will give up on our principled position against the country."

Turkey has refused to accept Israeli assistance in rescuing victims from the wreckage, according to the Zaman newspaper.

Diplomatic relations between the once-close allies were downgraded after the UN's Palmer Report on Turkey's 2010 flotilla to Gaza said Israel raiding it for weapons was justified. Turkey still demands an apology.

The government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan was under harsh criticism from survivors of the 7.2-magnitude quake for its slow reaction to the crisis and initially refusing international aid from many countries, including Israel.

Davutoalu dismissed those claims, saying that Turkey first needed to coordinate domestic efforts and had enough rescue teams on the ground.