BICOM

A court in Istanbul has decided to postpone a case brought against Israeli officers over the Mavi Marmara incident in 2010, despite the fact that dismissing the court cases is a key component of the recent reconciliation agreement between Israel and Turkey.

According to Channel Two, the court decided yesterday to postpone the case, which is thought to name four Israeli officers, until December. In June, Israel and Turkey agreed a reconciliation deal to restore diplomatic relations following a six-year hiatus, which included an agreement that such court cases would be terminated and no longer pursued.

In 2010, the previously warm relationship between Israel and Turkey deteriorated after the deaths of ten Turkish citizens who were killed on the Gaza-bound protest ship, the Mavi Marmara. In 2013, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued an apology over the incident while arrangements were made as far back as 2014 over a compensation deal for the families of those killed aboard the Mavi Marmara.

iIn a reconciliation deal signed in June 2016, Israel agreed to pay compensation and will allow Turkish aid and infrastructure projects in the Gaza Strip. In return, Turkey will not allow itself to be used as a base for terror groups such as Hamas. Crucially, Turkey also agreed that all cases against Israeli citizens involved in the Mavi Marmara incident would be dropped.

There have been several positive signs of diplomatic normalisation between the two countries since the deal was signed.  Last week, for the first time since ties deteriorated, a ministerial-level meeting took place. Israel’s Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz met his Turkish counterpart and agreed to deepen cooperation in the energy sector.

Also last week, Ibrahim Kalin, the spokesman for Turkey’s President Erdogan said that the two countries will soon exchange ambassadors. Turkish media has reported that Kemal Okem will become the country’s envoy in Tel Aviv. The Israel Foreign Ministry’s appointment committee is expected to meet on 27 October to select an ambassador to Ankara.