Turkey, Israel strike preliminary agreement to normalize relations

In 2010, six civilian ships in a humanitarian aid flotilla were attacked in worldwide waters by Israeli forces.

Israel and Turkey have reached an agreement that could end a diplomatic freeze between the two countries five years after the Mavi Marmara incident, local media report, citing an official Israeli source.

“The Hamas operative al-Arouri will not be permitted to enter Turkey and Turkey will not allow him to be active from its territory”, the official adds.

Officials in both Jerusalem and Ankara cautioned that there is still no comprehensive agreement and talks on easing Israeli restrictions on Gaza will continue, although Israel is determined that the Gaza blockade, seen in Jerusalem as essential for Israel’s security, will not be lifted.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan clapping during the 2015 Turkish Academy of Sciences award ceremony at Presidential Complex in Ankara, Turkey, Dec. 14, 2015.

But this week he said: “We, Israel and the Palestinians and the region have a lot to win from a normalisation process”. Israel claims he is using Turkey as a base to launch terrorist operations against it. The country recalled its ambassador to Israel and Israel’s ambassador to Turkey was expelled.

The official also said talks to lay down a natural gas pipeline from Israel to Turkey would begin soon.

Ankara’s close ties with Moscow unraveled last month when a Turkish jet shot down a Russian bomber carrying out airstrikes in Syria near Turkey’s border.

Erdogan, a stout defender of the Palestinian cause, in July 2014 was accusing Israel of “keeping Hitler’s spirit alive” over its offensive in the Gaza Strip that summer – incendiary comments that infuriated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Turkey and Israel agreed that Israel would establish a compensation fund to pay the families of the nine Turks killed in 2010 on the Mavi Marmara vessel, pictured.

Pro-Palestinian activists wave Turkish and Palestinian flags during the welcoming ceremony for cruise liner Mavi Marmara at the Sarayburnu port of Istanbul December 26, 2010. Turkish officials said a final deal had yet to be sealed, but given the progress on key topics, it would not be too long. I don’t believe the Israeli public is pleased with the current state of relations.