- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Israel, Turkey 'Very Close' to Concluding Reconciliation Deal

© AP Photo / Burhan OzbiliciTurkish honour guard soldiers hold an Israeli, right, and Turkish flag, left, after Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and his Turkish counterpart Vecdi Gonul reviewed the military guard of honour before their talks in Ankara, Turkey, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2010
Turkish honour guard soldiers hold an Israeli, right, and Turkish flag, left, after Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and his Turkish counterpart Vecdi Gonul reviewed the military guard of honour before their talks in Ankara, Turkey, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2010 - Sputnik International
Subscribe
After six times of tensions, Israel and Turkey may finally reach a reconciliation agreement that would boost bilateral cooperation in the spheres of tourism, energy and construction.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Tel Aviv and Ankara are "very close" to reaching a reconciliation agreement, after almost six years of tensions, Israeli Housing and Construction Minister Yoav Gallant said on Thursday.

"This agreement is significant for Israel from a national security perspective, and its economic significance is far reaching and has ramifications in the spheres of tourism and energy, and has the potential of influencing the construction sector as well… The agreements between us and the Turks are ready in almost all aspects," Gallant said, as quoted by the Jerusalem Post.

Turkish honour guard soldiers hold an Israeli, right, and Turkish flag, Ankara, Turkey (File) - Sputnik International
Turkey 'Demonstrates' Thaw With Israel Possible if Palestine Issue Settled
According to the minister, Turkish and Israeli officials are expected to meet again next week to try to conclude the final accord. He added that Israel had "many enemies," but did not want more.

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.

In late March, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that his country was ready to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel. The following month, the Turkish Foreign Ministry announced that the bilateral talks on normalizing the relations reached certain progress.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала