“Months after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan over the Mavi Marmara incident, the deal to restore relations is stuck, and Israelis increasingly feel Turkey has not lived up to its side of the bargain.

Netanyahu’s carefully worded apology, directed at “the Turkish people for any error that may have led to the loss of life,” was supposed to be the first phase of a wider agreement. Israel also agreed to compensate bereaved families, and Netanyahu promised to continue easing pressure on Gaza as long as Hamas’ cease-fire was maintained. In return, Turkey was supposed to end legal claims against Israelis who were involved in the unfortunate incident and to ensure immunity for Israeli officers from private prosecutions. Turkey also agreed to the return of ambassadors.

The apology was not easy for Netanyahu. Israel felt it acted within its rights in enforcing the blockade against a hostile, armed entity from whose territory rockets were constantly fired on Israel – a right confirmed by the United Nations’ Palmer report. Its internal inquiries concluded that while there were operational errors, its soldiers were fighting for their lives when they met planned, violent resistance on board the Mavi Marmara from İHH activists.

But with Obama’s encouragement, and keen to restore relations with an important power amid regional turmoil, Netanyahu made the gesture. He believed that with common interests, particularly in Syria, Turkey would also be motivated to contribute to restoring relations, even if the Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) reorientation of Turkey toward the Islamic world meant the close ties of the past were over.”

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