ANKARA (Sputnik) – Speaking with Jewish leaders at a closed-doors meeting in Washington, Erdogan acknowledged disagreements between Ankara and Tel Aviv on a range of issues, but noted that they are solvable.
"To do this, there needs to be a show of goodwill and true intentions. We are for the normalization of relations and the development of cooperation [between Turkey and Israel]," Erdogan said as quoted by the Anadolu news service.
Relations between Israel and Turkey deteriorated after the Freedom Flotilla incident in 2010, when a convoy of six ships, including one under Turkey's flag, tried to approach the Gaza Strip with humanitarian aid and activists on board. The flotilla was blocked and stormed by Israeli forces, resulting in eight Turkish citizens being killed.
Turkey responded by expelling the Israeli ambassador from the country, recalling its ambassador from Israel and demanding a formal apology from Israel, as well as compensation for the victims' families.
