*** Gaza: Israel's concentration-camp ***
David Cameron: Gaza 'must not remain a prison camp'
Gaza is a 'prison camp', according to David Cameron, who made the comment as he pledged to support Turkey's bid to join the European Union.
He appealed to Israel to allow the free flow of humanitarian goods and people in and out of the Palestinian territory.
The prime minister spoke during a visit to Turkey, where relations with Israel have been strained since May when troops stormed a flotilla of ships carrying supplies to Gaza. Eight Turks and one Turkish-American were killed.
Speaking in Ankara, Mr Cameron denounced it as ?completely unacceptable? and restated his call for Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu to deliver a ?swift, transparent and rigorous? inquiry.
Israel?s blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has severely limited the movement of people and goods since 2007, has sparked outrage in Islamic Turkey.
?The situation in Gaza has to change. Humanitarian goods and people must flow in both directions,? Mr Cameron said. ?Gaza cannot and must not be allowed to remain a prison camp.?
Mr Cameron also said Turkey?s support for action in Afghanistan would help earn it a place in the EU.
?When I think about what Turkey has done to defend Europe as a Nato ally, and what Turkey is doing today in Afghanistan, it makes me angry that your progress towards EU membership can be frustrated in the way it has been,? he added.
Pointing to economic growth of 11 per cent this year and a population of 72 million, he said allowing Turkey into the EU would be great for British trade.
But several countries remain strongly opposed to Turkey?s membership.
Turkey?s treatment of its Kurdish minority, its involvement in the Cyprus dispute and its refusal to open its ports to Greek Cypriot goods have delayed negotiations on membership.
SOURCE
The Insider, "David Cameron: Gaza 'must not remain a prison camp'", .28 July 2010.
http://www.metro.co.uk/news/836342-david-cameron-gaza-must-not-remain-a-prison-camp
"The Insider" mailing list article, 28 July 2010.
