BICOM

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued an apology to his Turkish counterpart Recip Tayyip Erdogan on Friday, over an incident in 2010 which resulted in the deaths of nine Turkish activists aboard the Gaza-bound Turkish protest vessel the Mavi Marmara after Israeli commandos had boarded the boat.

The incident was instrumental in a diplomatic breakdown between the two countries, which had previously enjoyed a close strategic relationship. Israel had rejected Turkish demands for an apology over the incident, particularly after an Israeli commission that included foreign observers found that Israel’s conduct met international standards. However, US President Barack Obama facilitated a phone call between Netanyahu and Erdogan prior to his departure from Israel on Friday.

Netanyahu said a major factor in his decision to apologise was “The fact that in Syria, the crisis is getting worse by the minute…  It is important that Turkey and Israel, which both border Syria can communicate with each other.”

Although Turkish leader Erdogan seemed to welcome the rapprochement, calling it “a one-time opportunity to promote peace in the Middle East,” there appears to be some way to go before normal relations are restored between the two countries. Speaking publicly yesterday, Erdogan cautioned, “We have said: An apology will be made, compensation will be paid and the blockade on Palestine will be lifted. There will be no normalisation without these.”

Although Globes reports that Israeli and Turkish officials will meet within the coming days to agree a compensation package for the families of the Turkish citizens killed in the incident, Israel’s National Security Advisor, Ya’akov Amidror, warned that “easing the lives of Gazan residents will continue” only “If there is quiet.” Just last week, two rockets fired from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip hit the southern Israeli town of Sderot.