Turkish Parliament ratifies reconciliation treaty with Israel

Ankara, Aug 20 (IANS) The Turkish Parliament on Saturday ratified a bill on the normalisation of the country's ties with Israel, ending a six-year period of tense relations, media reported.

As per the agreement Israel has to transfer $20 million to Turkey within 25 days for the 2010 raid on a Turkish flag-bearing vessel that killed ten Turkish activists, Sputnik news reported .

Relations between Israel and Turkey deteriorated after the Freedom Flotilla incident in May 2010, when a convoy of six ships, including one sailing under a Turkish flag, tried to approach the Gaza Strip with humanitarian aid and activists on board. The flotilla was blocked and stormed by Israeli forces.

Turkey responded by expelling the Israeli ambassador from the country, recalling its ambassador from Israel and demanding a formal apology from that country, as well as compensation for the victims' families.

The agreement was signed on June 28 in Rome after Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim made the announcement.