Israel and Turkey are set to normalize diplomatic relations, six years after an Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla left eight Turks and an American citizen of Turkish origin dead.
The full details — to be announced Monday morning, according to Israeli officials — will include a $20 million compensation fund for Turkish families and a plan for the return of ambassadors to Ankara and Tel Aviv.
In addition, Turkey has agreed to end all claims against Israeli military personnel and the State of Israel as a result of the Israeli raid, Israeli officials said.
Turkey to build hospital in Gaza
Turkish and Israeli officials finalized the agreement in Rome after a series of meetings dating back to last year. Both sides had been cautiously optimistic about reaching an agreement, but serious sticking points remained between the two countries, which have suffered years of strained relations.
Turkey had demanded that Israel lift its blockade of Gaza before normalizing relations, while Israel demanded that Turkey prevent Hamas leaders from operating within the country.
Under the agreement, Turkey will deliver humanitarian aid and nonmilitary supplies to Gaza while making infrastructure investments, according to a senior Turkish official, who said Hamas was not mentioned in the agreement.
Turkey plans on building a 200-bed hospital in Gaza while increasing the supply of electricity and drinking water, the Turkish official added.
Turkey once Israel’s closest regional ally
Relations between the two countries soured in May 2010 when Israeli commandos raided the Mavi Marmara, a ship bound for Gaza.
Turkey had long been Israel’s closest ally in the region, but the raid marked the end of normal diplomatic relations, as both countries pulled their ambassadors in the wake of the incident.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized for the raid in March 2013, acknowledging “operational mistakes.” At the time, many analysts predicted a thaw in relations, but that didn’t materialize until now.
The reconciliation is as much driven by economics as politics. When the negotiations were made public in December, part of the discussions included a proposed natural gas pipeline from Israel to Turkey and the sale of natural gas.
Israel has vast untapped offshore natural gas fields that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to develop, while Turkey finds itself in need of a natural gas supplier after relations with Russia – its primary supplier – soured late last year.
President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry encouraged the reconciliation and worked to bring the two countries together, since both are key American allies in the region.
Vice President Joe Biden spoke with Netanyahu on the phone Sunday night, where he “congratulated the Prime Minister for progress toward reconciliation with Turkey, noting the significant positive security and economic benefits for both countries.”
The two governments have scheduled press conferences for Monday morning to lay out details of the agreement.