Raid victims to keep pursuing Israel in court despite apology

Pro-Palestinian activists said on Monday they would not withdraw a lawsuit against Israeli commanders for a fatal 2010 raid on their Gaza-bound flotilla, ahead of official compensation talks between Turkey and the Jewish state this week. "We will not discuss compensation or give up on the trials until the blockade over Gaza is removed," said Musa Cogas, one of the activists who was on board the Mavi Marmara, the largest ship in the flotilla aimed at breaking Israel's Gaza blockade. His comments came ahead of official compensation talks between Turkey and Israel on Thursday. The talks follow a breakthrough apology from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month for the deaths of nine Turks during the raid. The US-brokered apology ended a three-year diplomatic crisis between Israel and Turkey, which asked for a formal apology and compensation for the families of the victim to fully normalise ties. "The apology means Israel is confessing to its crime... and has a diplomatic significance but that means nothing to us," said Ahmet Varol, a columnist for the Turkish Islamist daily Akit and another of the activists on board the flotilla. "The flotilla set sail to get the embargo lifted over Gaza and the blockade removed and we are clearly not there yet," Varol said. Prosecutors at the high-profile Istanbul trial that opened in November are seeking life sentences for four top Israeli military chiefs over the deadly maritime assault. Turkish officials previously said the compensation talks might lead to the withdrawal of the lawsuit but activists insist they will pursue their case until "justice is served".