Turkish and Israeli negotiators resumed talks on Wednesday in Switzerland as part of ongoing efforts to normalize diplomatic ties between the two countries, which once enjoyed close relations.
The Turkish delegation was headed by Feridun Sinirlioğlu, undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry, while Israel was represented by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's envoy Joseph Ciechanover and National Security Councillor Jakop Nagel during the talks in Geneva.
The talks come just a day after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had received US Jewish leaders in a meeting, which was seen a sign of thaw in mutual ties.
On Wednesday, Israel's Haaretz newspapers reported that Israeli and Turkish delegations were set to gather in Switzerland to narrow differences between two countries in the wake of Israel's assault on the Turkish-flagged ship, Mavi Marmara. Turkish officials in Ankara have apparently avoided making comment on this report. “We neither confirm this allegation nor refute it,” an official said when asked any confirmation.
The delegations have still tried to give a final shape to the agreement, which has been negotiated for three years by the two countries. In the last meeting, held in December, Turkey and Israel reached a preliminary agreement to normalize relations, including the return of ambassadors to both countries. Israel also accepted to pay $20 million as compensation to the families of victims.
An Israeli official, close to the Wednesday's meeting, said they have reached a compromise on most of the issues on the agenda including Turkey's demand for compensation to the families of the victims. However, Turkey's third demand, which is removal of the Israeli blockade on the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, has still remained a major hurdle betwen two countries, according to the Israeli official. “The delegations have still sought a joint formula which is acceptable for both sides,” he said.
The Turkish-flagged ship, the Mavi Marmara, was raided by Israeli troops as it was en route to the Gaza Strip to breach the Israeli blockade. Nine pro-Palestinian Turkish activists were killed in a battle at sea with Israeli naval commandos. Freedom Flotilla I, composed of six ships, was advancing in international waters when it was attacked by Israeli navy forces.
In November 2014, the International Criminal Court, or ICC, declared it will not investigate Israel's raid on the Turkish vessel due to lack of sufficient gravity. Turkish lawyers slammed the ICC for its decision not to prosecute Israel's raid on the vessel, saying the verdict is unacceptable as the court found that the case file gave a reasonable basis to believe war crimes had been committed on board Mavi Marmara.
In March 2013, Israel's Netanyahu expressed his regret for Israeli troops's role in Gaza flotilla raid when US President Barrack Obama brokered a call between Netanyahu and President Erdoğan. Even though the phone call gave a way to negotiations, the talks were later stalled.
