Israel cabinet approves reconciliation deal with Turkey

A deal was expected to be formally announced at 1000 GMT by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in Rome and Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim in Ankara.

“We were already delivering the same amount of humanitarian aid to Gaza, but without making an appearance”, said Erdogan.

“The total embargo imposed on Palestine and on the Gaza region in particular, is to being lifted to a great extent through Turkey’s leadership”, Yildirim said.

Nine activists aboard the Turkish-owned Mavi Marmara ferry were killed, with a 10th person later dying of his wounds.

Turkey and Israel reached an initial reconciliation agreement late Sunday. The United States has also pushed for the two countries to resolve the dispute as it seeks cooperation in the fight against the DAESH terrorist group in Iraq and Syria.

As Netanyahu and Kerry met for the second time in as many days, the USA top diplomat welcomed the agreement and congratulated Netanyahu. “This is a step we wanted to see happen”. The formal signing will probably take place on Tuesday, the official said. Erdoğan said that Turkey will rebuild Gaza’s electrical lines, provide drinking water and address their food, medical and housing needs. They also plan to begin talks over gas exports from Israel to Turkey.

Liberman was referring to the 2011 Israel-Hamas deal in which Israeli prisoner Gilad Shalit was released in exchange for the release of 1,027 Palestinian prisoners.

The Security Cabinet voted 7 to 3 to approve the agreement after a more than four-hour discussion.

Israeli media reports said Monday that Turkey had agreed to use its influence with Hamas to halt attacks on Israel and help recover the remains of two Israeli soldiers killed in the territory during a war in 2014. Israel and Turkey will normalize relations including appointing ambassadors to each country. The restoration of ties, however, indicate a change in tone from Erdogan.

Earlier Wednesday, U.S. President Barack Obama called Erdogan and praised him and the Turkish delegation for reaching an accord with Israel.

The move toward rapprochement comes amid Turkey’s deepening isolation in the region, following a deterioration of ties with Russian Federation and Egypt as well as the turmoil in neighboring Syria.

He said terror organizations were trying to impede Turkey’s ambitions, including becoming one of the world’s 10 strongest economies and building the world’s largest airport.

“It has also huge implications for the Israeli economy and I use that word advisedly – vast implications – for the Israeli economy, and I mean positive enormous implications”. But Israel will maintain its blockade against Palestinians.

“Nearly 50 years of occupation has had a devastating impact on Palestinian lives undermining the belief in a peaceful resolution to the conflict”, Ban said in Jerusalem.