Erdogan Signals Possible Warming of Ties with Israel
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signaled a possible warming of relations with Israel, saying the entire region would have much to gain from normalized ties.
Relations between former allies Turkey and Israel broke down in 2010 after an Israeli naval raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla killed nine Turkish citizens. Turkey has become the strongest critic of Israeli actions in Gaza, and reconciliation efforts between the two have repeatedly failed.
Erdogan told journalists during a flight back from Turkmenistan that "normalization with Israel" was possible if the sides can reach a compensation deal for the raid's victims and if Israel lifts a blockade against Palestinians. His words were reported by Yeni Safak newspaper Monday, the Associated Press said.
"There is so much the region could gain from such a normalization process," Erdogan said.