Gaza flotilla raid

The Israeli government on Sept. 30 paid $20 million in compensation to Turkey over the Mavi Marmara flotilla raid in 2010, which led to the suspension of diplomatic ties between the two countries before a reconciliation deal was reached earlier this year, private broadcaster CNN Türk has reported.

A man allegedly suffering from mental problems was shot and wounded on Sept. 21 by Turkish police in front of the Israeli Embassy in Ankara after he approached the main gate of the embassy, shouting anti-Israel slogans while brandishing a knife.

The Ankara Governor's Office identified the attacker as 38-year-old Osman Nuri Çalışkan from Konya.

The normalization of relations with Israel is expected to begin as negotiations between the two countries advance toward the final step, Turkish presidential spokesperson ?brahim Kal?n said April 25.

During the Organization of Islamic Cooperation summit in Istanbul, I twice gave a standing ovation to President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an's opening speech as the host of the event. 

We keep hearing that a Turkish-Israeli rapprochement is just around the corner, and will happen as soon as diplomats work out the final details. Yet nothing seems to happen. Reports on the topic indicate that Israel is the reluctant party now, seeing no urgency in making up with Turkey, especially if it appears that it is giving in to Ankara's demands. 

Turkish and Israeli teams have made progress toward finalizing an agreement to mend ties between the two countries, agreeing that a deal will be finalized in the next meeting to be convened "very soon," Ankara has announced.

Jewish leaders must stand against Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and xenophobia, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an said March 30.      

Last week's suicide bomb attack in Istanbul that killed three Israelis and one Iranian citizen has produced one rather unexpected result. The fact that Turkish authorities have tried to do their best to help Israeli diplomats heal their wounds in the aftermath of the March 19 suicide bombing have been sincerely appreciated by the Israeli administration. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on March 23 that he was hopeful that upcoming negotiations between Israel and Turkey "will produce positive results" and enable the renewal of relations between the two countries.

Israel hailed the sincere and very helpful cooperation it has received from Turkish officials in the immediate aftermath of deadly Istanbul attack in which its three citizens have been killed and envisaged this good as a way to help talks for the normalization of relations strained after the Mavi Marmara crisis of 2010.