BICOM

Israeli and Turkish negotiators met in London yesterday for the latest round of talks towards restoring bilateral ties. Although progress was apparently made, no agreement to normalise ties has yet been reached.

Israeli envoy Joseph Ciechanover and acting National Security Advisor Jacob Nagel met with Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu in an attempt to finalise a deal which would see the two countries resume diplomatic ties after a six year hiatus.

In 2010, the previously warm relationship between Israel and Turkey deteriorated and diplomatic relations were ceded after the deaths of ten Turkish citizens who were killed whilst trying to prevent Israeli commandos taking over a Gaza-bound protest ship, the Mavi Marmara. In 2013, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paved the way for reconciliation by issuing an apology. It is thought that arrangements were made in 2014 over a compensation deal for the families of those killed aboard the Mavi Marmara. Although subsequent talks resumed last year and have been ongoing, a number of outstanding issues remain.

The major sticking points are thought to be Turkey’s demand for free access to the Gaza Strip and Israel’s demand that Hamas be expelled fully from Turkey. However, progress appears to have been made at yesterday’s London meeting. A statement from Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said “The teams made progress towards finalising the agreement and closing the gaps, and agreed that the deal will be finalised in the next meeting which will be convened very soon.”

In another sign of warming ties between the two countries, Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin spoke directly with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan last month, after Erdogan had sent a letter of condolence following the killing of three Israelis in a terrorist attack in Istanbul. In the wake of the attack, the Director General of Israel’s Foreign Ministry Dore Gold travelled to Turkey and praised the Turkish authorities for their support and cooperation.