Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has phoned his Israeli counterpart Binyamin Netanyahu earlier this week to ask about the personal belongings of the two Bulgarians who sailed on the Gaza flotilla and whose belongings were confiscated by the IDF, The Jerusalem Post has learned.

Svetoslav Ivanov, a reporter, and cameraman, Valentin Vassilev, both from the country's biggest private national TV channel bTV, were arrested at the end of May when Israeli commandos stormed a convoy of ships carrying aid to the Gaza Strip. The two spent over three days and nights in an Israeli jail.

According to the report in Jerusalem Post the Bulgarian leader’s call came as the issue of cameras, personal computers and other items confiscated by Israel during the raid on the Mavi Marmara was quietly becoming something of a diplomatic issue.

The matter came up during a meeting Foreign Ministry Director-General Yossi Gal held Wednesday with the corps of ambassadors stationed here.

Gal, who discussed the nature of the flotilla on its way from Lebanon and the Gaza blockade, was asked by one of the ambassadors when and how Israel would return the confiscated personal items, and if not, whether Jerusalem would pay compensation.

Gal replied that the issue was currently being examined.

Gal asked of the ambassadors that their countries issue travel warnings advising their nationals not to join efforts to break the sea blockade of Gaza. He said that according to Israeli information, boats originating in countries hostile to Israel – Iran and Lebanon – are expected to arrive soon, and that those who do not want to be placed in a dangerous situation should not board the ships.

Even if some of those on board will have “good intentions,” he said, it is not clear that all on these ships are so well-intentioned.

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