Israel is continuing behind the scenes efforts to mend diplomatic relations with Turkey. National Security Advisor Yaakov Amidror met a few weeks ago in Rome with Turkey’s director-general of the Foreign Ministry. According to the Channel 2 report, the Prime Minister’s Office declined to officially comment on any such meeting.

After the Israel Navy commando operation against the Marvi Mamara in 2010 Turkey lowered diplomatic relations to Israel to a minimum. Israel is working to rebuild relations with its former staunch ally. Turkey has demanded an Israeli apology for the military operations against the so-called peace ship, which in actuality carried violent activists opposing to the Israeli marine embargo on Hamas-controlled Gaza, seeking to break that embargo.

Channel 2 reports that with the scheduled March 20, 2013 visit of US President Barak Obama Israel is under increasing pressure to mend fences with Turkey. The report adds that The Movement leader Tzipi Livni in September 2012 tried to arrange a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu but her request was declined by Turkish diplomatic officials.

A Turkish report states that an Israeli apology before the US presidential visit is “likely”, which appears will be the result of clandestine negotiations between the two countries.

In addition to the public apology stemming from the fact that Turkish nationals were killed onboard the flotilla ship in 2010, Turkey also wants the marine embargo on Gaza lifted. It appears Turkey is willing to back down on this demand due to the realization Israel is not about to acquiesce to listing the marine embargo at this time.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)