26 Apr 2024
Friday 18 December 2015 - 13:48
Story Code : 192942

Turkey, Israel cut reconciliation deal over 2010 raid: Official

The Tel Aviv regime and Turkey have agreed to normalize relations, seriously damaged over a 2010 fatal raid by Israeli forceson a Turkish aid ship, anofficial says.

According to the Israeli official, whose namewas not mentioned in the reports, the two sides reached "understandings" over the issue and drafted a deal during a secret meeting in Switzerland.

Under the deal, Israel should compensate the victims of the raid.Ankara and Tel Aviv would also exchange envoys and hold talks on the restart ofgas exports to Turkey.

The agreement would see all Turkish lawsuits against the Israeli regime cancelled. Turkey would alsoprevent Salah Aruri, a senior Hamas member, from entering the country, the Israeli source added on Thursday.

The official said negotiating teams were made up of Yossi Cohen, the incoming Mossad chief, and Israeli PM's point-man for Turkish reconciliationJoseph Ciechanover, while Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu represented Ankara.

Israeli Channel 10 television said the agreement is expected to be signed "in coming days."

The Turkish government is yet to comment on the Israeli announcement. Back in June, Ankara acknowledged that the two sides were engaged in reconciliation talks.

On May 31, 2010, Israeli commandos attacked the Turkish-flagged MV Mavi Marmara in the Mediterranean Sea, killing nine Turkish citizens and injuring about 50 other people . A 10th died last year after four years in a coma.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="555"] A speedboat escorts Turkish ship Mavi Marmara with Israeli forces on board near the southern port of Ashdod, May 31, 2010. (AFP photo)[/caption]

Following the raid, Turkey expelled the Israeli ambassador and demanded a formal apology and compensation, as well as an end to the Israeli-imposed blockade on the Gaza Strip.

Israel extended a formal apology to Turkey and after that negotiations on compensation began in 2013.

The flotilla was attempting to break the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza, carrying aid to the Palestinians in the impoverished enclave.

The attack sparked international outcry and plunged relations between Tel Aviv and Ankara into an all-time low at the time.

By Press TV
https://theiranproject.com/vdcgtx9qxak9yy4.5jra.html
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