The Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey said that Turkey will sign an agreement with Israel normalizing relations between the two countries, which will involve Israel compensating family members of Turkish citizens who died on the Mavi Marmara flotilla in 2010.
Jonathan Benedek, Jerusalem Online
Netanyahu (left) and Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan (right) Photo Credit: Channel 2
The Turkish newspaper “Hurriyet” reported today that Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc announced that the reconciliation agreement between Israel and Turkey will be signed next month after the scheduled municipal elections in the country. The agreement will include financial compensation from Israel to the family members of Turkish citizens who died on the Mavi Marmara flotilla in 2010.
According to the report, the final draft of the agreement which includes the amount of compensation that Israel is willing to pay, was transferred to Turkey last month. The Turkish Prime Minister also said that after the March 30 municipal elections, he will sign the agreement, which he added will allow for normalization of diplomatic relations between Israel and Turkey.
“The agreement should be approved by the Turkish Parliament, and right after that we will return to normal relations,” said Deputy Prime Minister Arinc. According to the report by “Hurriyet,” Israeli and Turkish diplomats met at least four times over the past yeat to implement this agreement.
Channel 2 reported last month that the agreement will entail compensation in from Israel in the amount of about $20 million, which is significantly lower than the amount initially demanded by Turkey. In return, the Turkish Parliament will cancel existing claims against Israeli military officials. Additionally, according to Israeli, Turkish, and sources within NATO, Turkey will also not stand in the way of any upgrading in Israel’s status in the NATO military alliance.
Agree with Norman
The compensation package[ as has been rumoured] is gross and essentially makes those families ‘millionaires’
The gas is the important factor here
But what will Turkeys reaction be to the Cypriot involvement?
I believe Turkey’s agreement has less to do with Israel than with Erdogan’s deteriorating political position at home and abroad.
Turkey also wants Israeli natural gas. The shift in the Turkish position hasn’t arisen from a new found love by the AKP Islamist regime for the Jewish State but simply due to the fact Turkey is playing with a weak hand.
There is no rational need for Israel to appease radical Islamists, whether in Ankara, Tehran og Ramallah. Paying jizya-money to Erdogan is a severe and shortsighted political mistake.