Turkey and Israel agree deal ending years of acrimony

A member of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition Dror Feiler (2nd L) speaks during a press conference on August 12, 2014, in Istanbul. (AFP)

JERUSALEM: Israel and Turkey reached a deal on Sunday aimed at ending years of acrimony and restoring normalized ties that soured after a deadly 2010 raid on an aid flotilla, an Israeli official said.
The highly anticipated agreement comes six years after an Israeli raid that killed 10 Turkish activists as an aid flotilla sought to run the blockade on the Gaza Strip.
Both sides have been pushing to complete the deal in recent months, with Israel in search of a potential customer for its offshore gas exports and NATO member Turkey wanting to restore its regional clout, analysts say.
The United States has also pushed for the two countries to resolve the dispute as it seeks cooperation in the fight against terrorists from the Daesh group.
Speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, the Israeli official said the agreement had been finalized but that details would not be officially announced until Monday.
Negotiations were said to have been held in Rome, where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu landed for talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday.
The agreement between the Muslim majority country and the Jewish state was expected to go before Israel’s security Cabinet for approval on Wednesday.
Two of Turkey’s key conditions for normalization — an apology and compensation — were largely met earlier, leaving its third demand, that Israel lift its blockade on the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, the main obstacle left.
Reports in recent days described a compromise on the issue.
Under the reported terms of the deal, Israel will allow the completion of a much-needed hospital in Gaza, as well as the construction of a new power station and a desalination plant for drinking water.
Turkey’s aid to Gaza would also be channelled through the Israeli port of Ashdod rather than sending it directly to the Palestinian enclave, the reports said.
Turkey has also committed to keeping Hamas from carrying out activities against Israel from its country, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported Sunday.
Hamas would continue to be able to operate from Turkey for diplomatic purposes, the paper said.