Rome – Israel and Turkey have announced a reconciliation deal to end a bitter six-year rift between the Mideast powers.
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In Rome, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the deal would help bring “stability” to the turbulent Middle East.
His Turkish counterpart, Binali Yildirim, made a simultaneous announcement in Ankara.
Relations between the once-close allies imploded six years ago after an Israeli naval raid killed nine Turks on board an aid ship trying to breach Israel’s blockade of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.
Under Monday’s deal, the two countries will restore full diplomatic relations. Israel will pay $20 million in compensation, and it will allow Turkey to carry out a series of aid projects in Gaza.
Yildirim said the deal “largely” lifted the Israeli blockade, while Netanyahu said the blockade remains in place, “This is a supreme security interest of ours. I was not willing to compromise on it. This interest is essential to prevent the force-buildup by Hamas and it remains as has been and is,” Netanyahu said.
Quite appalled. Turkey has proven to be hardly trustworthy. It has been an ally of Israel in the past, and then went back on its word, supporting any enemy it could.