Turkish FM says his country does not need US mediation to solve crisis with Israeli enemy

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Saturday that his country does not need United States' mediation to solve a long-lasting crisis with the Israeli enemy over a deadly 2010 flotilla raid.

"We do not need mediation ... for Israel in any way," Davutoglu said during a televised press conference in the central province of Konya when asked to comment on the possibility of the US helping to resolve their differences. "There is no such situation in which mediation is needed," he highlighted, as he explained that the demands of Turkey are clear if its former ally Israel wants to improve relations.

"No one should test our resolve on this matter," he went on to say, confirming at the same time that Israeli-Turkish relations might be on the agenda among other issues of a meeting between Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Barack Obama next week on the sidelines of the UN general assembly. "The Americans are probably the people who best understand Turkey's position on this issue," Davutoglu added.

Israel and Turkey have been locked in a bitter dispute since May 2010 when Israeli naval commandos stormed a convoy of six ships trying to reach the Gaza Strip in defiance of an Israeli inhumane blockade, killing nine people.

Earlier this month Turkey expelled the Israeli ambassador and froze military ties and defense trade deals.