Israel, Turkey to restore ties, official saysDecember 18, 2015 - 23:22 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Israel and Turkey have reached an understanding that could lead to the restoration of ties between the two former allies, an Israeli official said Thursday, December 17, the Associated Press reports. Relations between the two countries broke down in 2010 after an Israeli naval raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla that killed eight Turkish citizens and one Turkish-American. In the aftermath of the raid, Turkey became one of the strongest critics of Israeli actions in Gaza. Israel apologized to Turkey for the deaths and agreed to compensate the victims' families under a U.S.-brokered arrangement in 2013. But efforts to restore ties faltered amid new Israeli action in Gaza. The Israeli official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak to the media about the diplomatic talks, said the sides agreed that Israel would compensate the families of the flotilla victims. The official said Turkey would waive legal claims against Israel over the raid and that the countries would upgrade diplomatic ties by returning ambassadors. A leader of the Islamic militant group Hamas said to be based in Turkey will be banned from operating from the country. A U.S. official familiar with the agreement confirmed the details. He also spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't allowed to talk to the media about the subject. The Israeli official said the understanding requires final approval, adding that it was achieved between the incoming head of Israel's Mossad Yossi Cohen and the Turkish Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu. The official also said talks to lay down a natural gas pipeline from Israel to Turkey would begin soon. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Concept to complete Yerevan Cascade discussed at city hall A conceptual proposal to complete the Cascade complex in downtown Yerevan has been presented by Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Pashinyan visits flood-hit region Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Saturday, June 8 visited the disaster area in the Lori province. €3.5 mln EU grant to support justice reforms in Armenia The European Union has paid €3.5 mln grant to Armenia within a €11mln program on Support to Justice Reforms. Yerevan reacts to Baku’s proposal to see Minsk Group abolition Alen Simonyan has declared that Armenia is taking steps aimed at concluding a peace treaty with Azerbaijan. |