The Turkish Defense Ministry has decided to abandon the joint naval exercises with the Isreali Defense Army due to the crisis in bilateral relations, the Turkish Aksam newspaper reoprted.
The joint search and rescue operations exercises in the Mediterranean Sea have been scheduled for August with the participation of naval forces of Israel, Turkey and the United States.
Israel believes Turkey's refusal from participation in the exercises related to the Israeli military's attack on the Turkish humanitarian ship Mavi Marmara routing to Gaza that lead to murder of nine Turks.
Despite Turkey's refusal to participate in the exercises, they will be held with the participation of American and Israeli Navy
The Turkish leadership demanded from Israel to offer a formal apology for the attack on an international convoy in the international waters and pay compensation to the families of the victims, as well as to ease the blockade of the Gaza Strip and accept an international investigation into the incident in the Mediterranean Sea. If the demands not fulfilled, Ankara will cease the relations.