Israel and Turkey Officially Announce Rapprochement Deal, Ending Diplomatic Crisis

Source: Haaretz

Netanyahu says agreement creates stability in face of Mideast turmoil; Gaza blockade to remain, but Turkish aid to Gaza to be permitted through Israel.

ROME –Turkey and Israel have reconciled after a six-year rift, the two nations' prime ministers announced on Monday at separate press conferences in Rome and Ankara. The agreement renormalizes diplomatic relations between the two countries and ends the crisis that erupted following the death of nine Turkish civilians during a raid by Israeli commandos on the Mavi Marmara flotilla to Gaza Strip in May 2010.

The rapprochement agreement was initialed by the negotiating teams on Sunday night. For the first time since the negotiations began, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent his personal adviser and closest confidante, Ibrahim Kalin, to the final round of talks in Rome, to personally oversee the final stage.

The agreement will formally be signed on Tuesday, in Jerusalem by Dori Gold, the director general of the Foreign Ministry, and in Ankara, by the director general of the foreign ministry there. The signed agreement will be brought before the diplomatic-security cabinet on Wednesday for voting.

At this stage none of the ministers sitting on the panel have voiced objections, but sources in Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party said they expect the defense minister to vote against the deal. Ministers Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked of Habayit Hayehudi say they haven't made up their minds yet.

Read more: http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.727369