Following six years of frozen diplomatic ties, Israel yielded to almost every demand made by Ankara.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday a major reconciliation deal with Turkey.

Turkey will withdraw lawsuits against the Israeli commandos in the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the The Hague.

In turn, Israel will pay €18.1 million to the families of those killed on the Mavi Marmara ship during a commando raid in 2010. The boat with Turkish activists was bound from Turkey to Gaza when it was attacked, killing 10 activists on board.

Turkey has since recalled its ambassador to Israel.

The agreement also opens the road for the construction of an onshore Israeli gas pipeline to supply Europe via Turkey.

Turkey will also be allowed access to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid, although Israel will maintain the maritime blockade off the Gaza Strip coast for the rest of the world. “This is a supreme security interest for us. I was not prepared to compromise on it,” Netanyahu said.

https://www.neweurope.eu/article/israel-reaches-reconciliation-deal-turkey/