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Israel-Turkey reconciliation deal edges towards possible Sunday announcement
Media reports have suggested that an announcement regarding a reconciliation agreement between Israel and Turkey could be made on Sunday.
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. Subsequent talks resumed last year and have been ongoing, including a meeting between representatives in London in April.
Haaretz says that a potential meeting on Sunday will be attended by Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioğlu and Israeli envoy Joseph Ciechenover, plus deputy national security adviser Jacob Nagel.
Several sticking points have remained during the past several months, including Turkey’s demand for a relaxation of Israeli restrictions on the Gaza Strip and Israel’s request that Turkey entirely close Hamas’ office in Istanbul. However, the Turkish daily Hurriyet says that differences have been resolved and that an agreement is expected to be announced on Sunday, ratified in July. According to the report, Turkey will be permitted to send aid to Gaza via Israel’s Ashdod port. Turkey will also apparently build a hospital and a desalinization plant in Gaza and will construct a power plant for Gaza in a joint project with Germany.
However, the family of Abera Mengistu, an Israeli citizen who wandered into the Gaza Strip in 2014 and has remained in Hamas’ hands ever since, have appealed to make his return a condition of any concessions involving the Gaza Strip.
At the same time, in a further sign of warming Israel-Turkey relations, MK Ksenia Svetlova (Zionist Union) will participate in a joint think-tank event in Istanbul tomorrow, organised by the Israeli Mitvim institute and Turkey’s Global Political Trends Centre.