US urges Israel, Turkey to mend fences

WASHINGTON: The United States urged Israel and Turkey on Friday to mend fences as relations soured to a new low over Israel's 2010 raid on a Gaza aid flotilla that left nine Turkish nationals dead.

The US call came after a UN report slammed the "excessive" force used in a raid. No apology was forthcoming from Israel so Turkey expelled the Israeli ambassador to Ankara and suspended all military ties with its one-time ally.