The Turkish foreign ministry has revealed that a delegation led by one of its officials, Feridun Sinirlioglu, met an Israeli delegation in London yesterday. The Israeli group was headed by Joseph Ciechanover representing the prime minister and National Security Advisor Jacob Nagel.
The ministry said that the two delegations made progress on the final format of the agreement which aims to normalise relations between Turkey and Israel. It was arranged following talks regarding the Israeli attack on the Turkish-registered Freedom Flotilla, specifically the Mavi Marmara, heading for the besieged Gaza Strip in 2010.
The statement noted that progress has been made in terms of overcoming the differences of opinion between Ankara and Tel Aviv. It is likely that a final agreement will be reached at the next meeting, to be held “soon”.
Turkey’s conditions for normalising relations with Israel include compensation for the victims of the attack on the Mavi Marmara in 2010 and their families, along with the lifting of the Israeli-led siege imposed on the Gaza Strip.