Erdogan, Abbas discuss Turkish-Israeli deal to normalize ties

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas over the phone late Sunday on a deal to normalize ties with Israel, local media reported on Monday.

Erdogan told Abbas that Ankara reached an agreement with Tel Aviv on improving humanitarian conditions in Gaza, Anadolu Agency quoted Turkish presidential sources as saying.

Abbas welcomed the developments of Turkey-Israel relations, the sources added.

Senior officials from Turkey and Israel affirmed the deal had been sealed to normalize ties, six years after a deadly raid on an aid flotilla soured relations.

Diplomats of the two countries met in Rome on Sunday and agreed on key conditions for reconciliation.

Reports said that Israel accepted a number of requests by the Turkish side, including Israeli compensation for families of those killed in the 2010 Mavi Marmara flotilla raid.

Under the deal, Turkey will be able to send humanitarian aid to Gaza as well as implement infrastructure projects.

Ties between Israel and Turkey soured following a deadly 2010 raid by an Israeli naval ship against a Turkish ship, the Mavi Marmara.

The Mavi Marmara was part of a flotilla headed to the Gaza Strip demanding the lifting of the Israeli blockade. The incident killed 10 Turkish nationals.

Turkey had demanded an official apology from Israel, compensation for the families of the victims as well as the removal of Israel's blockade on Gaza in the aftermath of the attack.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized in 2013 to Turkey's then-premier and now president Erdogan for the attack.

In recent months, the two countries have been engaged in talks to normalize relations. Endit