Turkey claims diplomatic victory as deal with Israel set to be inked
In Rome, Netanyahu to unveil full terms of reconciliation agreement later Monday; Turkish PM to hold press conference in Ankara
A senior Turkish official said the reconciliation deal reached between Israel and Turkey which is set to be signed on Tuesday was a diplomatic victory for Ankara.
The official said, according to Israel Radio, that even as Israel stood by its refusal to lift the blockade on Gaza — one of Turkey’s conditions for a rapprochement deal and a past sticking point — Turkey did succeed in convincing Israel to allow Turkish humanitarian aid through its Ashdod port to Gaza, the completion of a much-needed hospital in the Palestinian enclave, and the construction of a new power station and desalination plant for drinking water.
The deal will end years of acrimony between the two former allies following a deadly 2010 IDF raid on an aid flotilla that sought to breach Israel’s security blockade on Hamas-held Gaza — a blockade Israel imposed in June 2006 after the capture of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, tightening the restrictions a year later in an aim to prevent Hamas from importing weapons when the terror group violently overthrew Fatah.
On May 31, 2010, frayed relations between Israel and Turkey took a downturn after Israeli commandos staged a pre-dawn raid on a six-ship flotilla that was trying to breach the blockade, intercepting the Turkish-flagged Mavi Marmara. The soldiers were violently attacked by those on board.
Nine Turkish citizens, including one with American citizenship, were killed in the ensuing melee. A 10th died of his wounds years later. A number of Israeli soldiers were injured in the raid
The agreement includes $20 million in Israeli compensation for Turkish victims of the incident, as well as a Turkish commitment to help free Israeli prisoners and the bodies of soldiers held in Gaza.
An Israeli official said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to a separate document instructing all relevant Turkish agencies to help resolve the issue of Israel’s missing citizens.
The families of Lt. Hadar Goldin and Sgt. Oron Shaul, both killed in the 2014 war in Gaza, as well as Avraham Abera Mengistu, who disappeared into the Strip later in 2014, had called for the government to make sure the return of their sons was included in the agreement. A fourth Israeli man is also being held in Gaza, according to officials.
Turkey has also committed to keeping Hamas from planning or carrying out activities against Israel from its country. Hamas would continue to be able to operate from Turkey for diplomatic purposes, according to Hebrew media reports.
Hamas has said it was not involved in Turkey’s decision to restore ties with Israel but claimed it was “proud” of Turkey’s official position on the Palestinian issue, according to the Turkish Daily Sabah.
The full terms of the accord were set to be unveiled by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday afternoon in Rome, where he met a day earlier with US Secretary of State John Kerry. The two, according to reports, discussed the Turkish deal, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the raging Syrian civil war. Netanyahu will later Monday meet with Italian PM Matteo Renzi.
Netanyahu also called Vice President Joe Biden to thank him for encouraging the normalization talks with Turkey, according to a statement released by Biden’s office. It said Biden congratulated Netanyahu “for progress toward reconciliation with Turkey, noting the significant positive security and economic benefits for both countries and the wider Eastern Mediterranean region.”
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim will hold a press conference in Ankara to discuss the deal also Monday afternoon.
The deal will be signed Tuesday by Foreign Ministry Director Dore Gold and his Turkish counterpart.
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, once close regional allies and economic partners, to resolve the dispute as it seeks cooperation in the fight against extremists from the Islamic State group.
AP and AFP contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.