Turkey, Israel “to agree normalization deal over weekend”June 21, 2016 - 14:40 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey and Israel will this weekend announce a deal on normalizing ties, ending a years-long diplomatic crisis exacerbated by a deadly 2010 Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla in which 10 Turkish nationals died, a report said Tuesday, June 21, according to AFP. The Hurriyet daily said the two sides would make the announcement during final talks on June 26 after intensive diplomacy resulted in a compromise agreement on the partial lifting of Israel’s blockade on the Gaza Strip. The already-tense relations between former allies Israel and Turkey were significantly downgraded after Israeli commandos staged a botched pre-dawn raid on a six-ship flotilla in May 2010 as it tried to run the blockade on Gaza. Nine activists on board the Turkish-owned Mavi Marmara ferry were killed, with a tenth later dying of his wounds, sparking a bitter diplomatic crisis. Several IDF soldiers were seriously wounded in the fighting aboard the ship. Two of Turkey’s key conditions for normalization — an apology and compensation for the raid — were largely met, leaving its third demand, that Israel lift its blockade on the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, as the main obstacle. Under the reported terms of the deal, Israel will allow the completion of a hospital in Gaza, as well as the construction of a new power station and a seawater desalination plant for drinking water, AFP says. Israel imposed its blockade in June 2006 after Hamas fighters killed two IDF soldiers and kidnapped Cpl. Gilad Shalit in a cross-border raid. The restrictions were tightened a year later when Hamas took control of the enclave in a violent overthrow of the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority. Meanwhile, Turkey will send aid to Gaza via the Israeli port of Ashdod rather than sending it directly to the Palestinian enclave, the paper said. 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 | SBP instant transfers now available from 190 Russian banks to Armenia To receive money from Russian banks, easywallet users need to go to their easywallet accounts. Armenia's Davit Chaloyan qualifies for Paris Olympics The Armenian boxer qualified for Paris Olympics after a series of successful bouts at the 2nd World Qualification Tournament. Lemkin Institute urges Armenia to respect people’s right to dissent The Lemkin Institute has urged the Armenian government to respect people’s fundamental human right to express their dissent. French-Armenian journalist returns to France after 41-day hunger strike Nicolian said on social media on Sunday, June 2 that he needs to improve his health in order to “continue the fight”. |