BICOM

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu suggested yesterday that Israel and Turkey could soon finalise an agreement over compensation for the families of those killed aboard the Mavi Marmara, paving the way to restoring diplomatic ties between the two countries.

In 2010, the previously warm relationship between Israel and Turkey deteriorated and diplomatic ties were cut after the deaths of nine Turkish citizens who were killed whilst trying to prevent Israeli commandos taking over a Gaza-bound protest ship, the Mavi Marmara. Last year, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paved the way for reconciliation by issuing an apology at the behest of US President Obama.  However, relations between Israel and Turkey have remained strained. Although talks took place several months ago between Israeli and Turkish officials over financial compensation for families of those killed on board the Mavi Marmara, no final agreement was reached.

However, it was widely reported that last week a senior Turkish delegation visited Israel. Haaretz says it was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Fridon Sinirlioglu and met with National Security Adviser Yossi Cohen, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s special envoy Joseph Ciechanover and Foreign Ministry Director-General Nissim Ben-Sheetrit. Although there has been no official comment from Israeli officials, Davutoglu was reported yesterday in popular Turkish daily Hurriyet, saying “there has recently been a momentum and new approach in compensation talks. We could say that most of the differences have been removed recently in these discussions.”

Most assume that the agreement of a compensation package would likely shortly be followed by an exchange of ambassadors and the resumption of full diplomatic ties between the two countries. However, Davutoglu also suggested in the same interview that reinstalling Israel-Turkey ties would be followed by Turkey playing a significant role to “monitor and to coordinate humanitarian aid to Gaza.”