Israel, Turkey negotiate reconciliation to end six-year dispute

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Turkey

Israeli and Turkish representatives met in Rome on Sunday with the goal of settling a six-year conflict and normalising ties between the two countries, which had grown increasingly volatile in recent years.

Turkish-Israeli relations were soured, among other events, in 2010 when Israeli soldiers opened fire on pro-Palestinian activists on a Turkish passenger ship seeking to breach Israel’s maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip.

Compensation for the families of nine Turkish nationals killed when Israel overpowered the Mavi Marmara flotilla as it was headed to the Gaza Strip is among the details to be finalised by delegates in a comprehensive reconciliation agreement.

Israel also would allow Turkey to deliver anything it wishes to the Gaza Strip.

However, any shipments must pass through Israeli security checks in the southern Israeli port of Ashdod.

Under the agreement, Israel would also allow Turkey to build a power station, hospital and desalination plant in Gaza.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry declined to comment or give details.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a delegation of aides landed in Rome, where the premier was to meet with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Netanyahu’s spokesman David Keyes said.

An official statement on the Israel-Turkey reconciliation agreement would be published at noon on Monday (0900 GMT), the spokesman said.

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