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10:01 GMT
GAZA, Dec 6 (KUNA) -- Israeli and Turkish officials met in Geneva to draft
an agreement to mend strained relations between the two countries due to the
Israeli raid on the "Gaza Freedom Flotilla" last May, the Haaretz newspaper
said on Monday.
The Haaretz added that the Israeli and Turkish diplomats speculated that
this agreement would demand an Israeli apology to Turkey for the killing of
nine Turkish citizens on the Mavi Marmara ship of the Freedom Flotilla, in
addition to compensations in relation to this incident.
In exchange, Turkey would return its ambassador to Tel-Aviv and agree to
appoint a new Israeli envoy in Ankara, the newspaper added.
This meeting came upon the initiative of the Israeli Prime Minister,
following the Turkish aid and assistance dispatched to help put out the Mount
Carmel fires.
It is expected that other meetings will follow to finalize the draft, the
paper noted.
It further said that the purpose of this meeting is to discuss a
comprehensive agreement that would put an end to the strained relations
between the two countries.
The newspaper quoted Israeli Foreign Ministry sources saying Foreign
Minister Avigdor Lieberman was briefed on the diplomatic communications which
were handled by national security adviser, Uzi Arad.
The sources said, they believe Lieberman has reservations over these
diplomatic efforts, as he had said that Israel would not apologize or pay
compensation to the Turks.
Yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seized the opportunity
of the Turkish support to the Israeli fire-fighting effort to initiate
attempts to mend relations. He sent Israel's representative on the UN
committee investigating the Gaza flotilla incident, Yosef Ciechanover, to
Geneva to meet with the Turkish Undersecretary at the Foreign Ministry.
Israeli-Turkish relations deteriorated following Erdogan's criticism of
Israel's military attack on Gaza Strip in 2008 which lasted for 22 days.
The diplomatic ties were strained even further after Israeli soldiers
killed nine Turks onboard the "Gaza Freedom Flotilla" leading vessel.(end)
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