The UN on Thursday released its long-awaited report on last year's flotilla raid, focusing on the lead ship where Israeli commandos were savagely attacked by violence-bent Turkish nationals and, in self-defense, fired back, killing nine of them.  The flotilla was bent on breaching Israel's blockade of Gaza. The conclusions of  UN panel, headed by Geoffrey Palmer, a former prime minister of New Zealand, received general approval from Israel, while the Turkish government of Prime Minister Erdogan went ballistic in objecting to virtually every conclusion. Specifically, the Palmer report concludes that Israel's blockade of Gaza is legal under international maritime law because Israel is under persistent attack from Gaza.  Turkey strongly contested this point. Regarding Erdogan's insistence on an Israeli apology, the report absolves Israel from taking any such step.  It simply suggests that Israel issue a statement of "regret" and pay compensation to the families. ...(Read Full Post)