Israel, Turkey agree deal ending years of acrimony

The highly anticipated agreement was reported on Sunday, six years after an Israeli raid that killed 10 Turkish activists as an aid flotilla sought to break the blockade on the Gaza Strip.

Previously tight relations between Israel and Turkey were significantly downgraded after Israeli commandos staged a botched pre-dawn raid on the six-ship flotilla in May 2010.

Earlier this week, it was reported that delegations from both sides-headed by Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioğlu and a special envoy representing the Israeli prime minister, Joseph Ciechanover-are scheduled to meet June 26 to declare the restoration of ties, according to Turkey’s Hurriyet Daily News.

Agreements on the most important obstacle to reconciliation the blockade on the Gaza Strip – were reached in the negotiations between Israel and Turkey in recent weeks, mainly in a series of meetings in Europe between the two countries’ negotiating teams.

If Israeli and Turkish negotiators agree on a final draft of the agreement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold a news conference in the evening announcing the countries’ reconciliation.

Israel and Turkey have reached a compromise on the third condition posed by Ankara – lifting the siege on Gaza.

The statements Saturday night from the families of Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, who were killed during Israel’s Operation Protective Edge against Hamas in 2014, said the return of their sons’ remains should be part of the rapprochement deal.

Israel has a written pledge from the Turkish president to this effect, the official adds.

But mainly, the Turkish government has committed that Hamas will not carry out any terrorist or military activity against Israel from Turkish territory, although the organization is not barred from maintaining a diplomatic presence in the country. An Israeli of Ethiopian descent and a Bedouin from Israel’s Arab minority are also believed to be held in Gaza.

The talks to restore ties, ongoing for months, have been accompanied by a change in tone from Erdogan. We know that we haven’t been able to make this contribution adequately because our relations with Israel went off track.

“Increasing the level of cooperation between NATO and Israel, as well as with our other Mediterranean Dialogue partners, is essential”, Stoltenberg said, referring to a security forum that brings together Israel, NATO and Arab nations that the Jewish state does not have formal relations with.

Israel imposed its blockade on Gaza in June 2006 after Palestinian fighters there kidnapped an Israeli soldier.