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Biden, Netanyahu discuss Israel-Turkey relations

Xinhua, January 30, 2016 Adjust font size:

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, exchanging views on Israel-Turkey relations, the White House said.

"Following up on their recent discussion in Davos, Switzerland, Vice President Biden called Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu earlier today to discuss ongoing efforts to improve Israel-Turkey relations and advance energy cooperation in the eastern Mediterranean", the White House said in a press release.

A preliminary agreement reached discreetly last month between Israeli and Turkish negotiators sparked a fresh hope for the normalization of ties between the two countries that have been at odds over a number of differences since 2010.

The deal, brokered in Switzerland by Turkish and Israeli negotiators, sees the establishment of a 20-million-U.S.-dollar compensation fund for the victims of 10 Turkish citizens who were killed by Israeli commandos during a raid of Gaza-bound Turkish humanitarian ship in 2010.

In exchange, Turkey reportedly pledged to drop lawsuits against Israeli soldiers and officials.

Israel is a longtime U.S. ally, while Ankara is also an important partner of Washington in the Middle East. Endit