MidEast

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Israel, Turkey Hold First Strategic Talks in Six Years

Israeli and Turkish diplomats conducted their first strategic dialogue in six years in Ankara on Wednesday.

Officials from both countries’ foreign ministries met and discussed economic, academic, and cultural cooperation, according to a statement released by the parties after the talks, Haaretz reported. “Both sides viewed developments in the wide region, particularly in the Middle East and eastern Mediterranean, and reaffirmed the importance of better Turkish-Israeli relations for the stability and the security of the region,” the statement read.

The diplomats also agreed that Turkey’s ministers of tourism and economy would visit Israel in the coming weeks.

Turkish-Israeli ties had been strained since the 2010 Mavi Marmara incident, when a flotilla under the control of the Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation — a group designated as a terrorist organization by the Netherlands and Germany — attempted to break Israel’s naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. IDF troops faced an “organized and violent” assault from a group of passengers after boarding the ship, according to a UN report. Ten crew members were killed in the ensuing fight, and several Israeli soldiers were injured.

After the reconciliation agreement was reached this past June, Israeli leaders noted the significant economic potential of closer ties. “Trade between Israel and Turkey has more than doubled from the Marmara event up until today,” said Maj. Gen. (ret.) Yaakov Amidror, adding that the deal will bolster that growth with “joint projects in government level. People are speaking about gas and there are other issues that might emerge.”

Turkey also sent Israel assistance to fight wildfires that raged throughout the country in November.

[Photo: Twitter ]