Israel and Turkey normalize relations

The government of Israel and Turkey reached a preliminary agreement on the normalization of bilateral relations, the BBC reported citing Israeli sources. The two countries have long been allies, but relations have deteriorated sharply in 2010, when the Israeli Navy attacked the Turkish ships, trying to overcome the blockade of the Gaza Strip, killing 10 Turkish activists.

According to preliminary agreement, Israel is obliged to pay compensation to the families of the victims, and Turkey, in turn, withdraws all legal claims against Israel.

Officials from both sides have not yet confirmed an agreement. According to sources, the agreement was reached at a meeting of high-ranking Israeli and Turkish officials in Switzerland.

The parties also discussed the new exchange of ambassadors and the possibility of building a gas pipeline from Israel to Turkey.

Earlier this week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey is ready to normalize relations with Israel, but this will happen only if Israel agrees to a number of conditions, previously designated by official Ankara. One of the goals of Ankara is access to gas from offshore fields off the coast of Israel and abandon gas-02D-