Palestinians fear Turkey will drop condition that Israel lift Gaza siege
Turkey has long insisted that Israel lift its siege on the Gaza Strip before Turkish-Israeli relations can be normalized, but a recent warming of ties suggests this may change.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — According to Israeli leaks published by several media outlets Dec. 17, Turkey has dropped its condition that Israel lift its nine-year Gaza siege in return for normalizing relations between Israel and Turkey. Those relations were greatly affected after Israel attacked the Mavi Marmara May 21, 2010, part of a flotilla attempting to break the siege.
The leaks have raised the ire of Palestinians, and some are worried that they might be true.
Israeli media outlets such as Channel 10 claimed that several meetings have been held between Israel and Turkey in Sweden. According to the leaks, the two sides agreed that if Israel apologizes for its attack on the Turkish ship — leading to the deaths of nine Turks and the wounding of several others — and compensates the families of the Turkish victims with about $20 million, Turkey would normalize relations with Israel and drop its condition that Israel lift its siege on the Gaza Strip.
Turkey has denied this claim.
