“The United States is trying to stop further deterioration of ties between its two regional allies, Turkey and Israel, on the eve of the first anniversary of the Gaza-bound Mavi Marmara humanitarian ship incident that left nine Turkish activists dead at the hands of Israeli commandos,” Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review reports.

“Currently, for Washington there are two major concerns. The first is a possible Turkish retaliation against Israel, which could be announced on May 31 on the margins of the commemorations for the killed activists. The retaliation could be shown by ending long-waited appointment process of Kerim Uras to Tel Aviv as the Turkish ambassador. Uras was appointed for this post before the Mavi Marmara incident, but the process was left suspended as a display of reaction against Israel after May 31, 2010” the newspaper reads.

“This move would be an open message to Israel that Turkey was not planning to normalize ties if its demands for apology and compensation were not met. However, this step of Turkey’s could push Israel to do the same when the terms of office of its envoy to Ankara, Gaby Levy, end this fall,” the source says.

“This is what Washington is trying to avoid, believing that it would worsen the environment for mending ties between its two allies.”

“The second thing the U.S. is worried about is trying to stop a second flotilla. With its opposition against another flotilla already public, the U.S. is using all diplomatic means to this end. Top American diplomats have contacted both sides in recent days to advise them to embrace a more common-sense policy. The message sent both to Ankara and Tel Aviv was that more martyrs will help nothing but create more instability and pains,” the newspaper says.