BICOM

According to reports in Haaretz, Israeli and Turkish officials have been holding secret direct talks to try to solve the diplomatic crisis between the two countries. According to the report the talks are being held between an Israeli official on behalf of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu, a strong supporter of restoring ties with Israel. Talks are also being held between the Israeli representative on the UN inquiry committee on last year’s Gaza flotilla, Yosef Ciechanover, and Turkey’s representative on the committee, Ozdem Sanberk. The two, who have been working together for several months on the UN committee, pass on messages between the two states and have painstakingly drafted understandings to end the crisis.

Last Thursday, Netanyahu called a meeting with a small group of ministers on the Gaza flotilla and relations with Turkey. A source familiar with the debate said the main point of contention was whether Israel would apologise to Turkey or only express regret, and whether the Turkish families who will be compensated for their loved ones killed in Israel’s raid last year would be able to file further suits. This is Israel and Turkey’s third attempt to reach understandings that would end the crisis. The first attempt took place following the Carmel fire in December. Ciechanover and Sanberk reached partial understandings, but Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman objected to Israel’s apologising to Turkey for last year’s flotilla events, and talks were halted.

One of the developments behind the current attempt to solve the crisis is the UN inquiry committee’s report on the flotilla, due to be released in the first week of July. Israel and Turkey’s representatives on the committee want to use the report’s release as an opportunity for both countries to put the flotilla behind them and restore ties. The draft report submitted a few weeks ago led to disagreements on both sides, which originally delayed the release. The disagreements, however, appear to have been resolved as both Israel and Turkey have agreed to the release of the report at the beginning of July.