Israel welcomes Turkish parliament's ratification of rapprochement deal

Israel praised Saturday the ratification of the rapprochement deal between Israel and Turkey by the Turkish parliament, Ha'aretz reported on Sunday.

In a statement, the Prime Minister's Office said it welcomes the ratification of the agreement by the Turkish parliament and is looking forward to its continued implementation, including the appointment of ambassadors in Jerusalem and Ankara. 

The vote early Saturday effectively turned the agreement, signed in June, into law, stipulating that all legal claims would be dropped against Israel soldiers and officers who participated in the takeover of the Turkish flotilla to Gaza in May, 2010.

Also stipulated in the arrangement, Israel will have 25 days from the date the agreement goes into effect to transfer $20 million to a humanitarian fund created by the Turkish government. The fund will be used for compensation payments to the families of the Turkish citizens killed by Israeli soldiers during the takeover of the 2010 flotilla's lead ship, the Mavi Marmara.

With the deal ratified by Turkish lawmakers, the process of normalization is set to begin, including the removal of sanctions both parties have imposed on one another, an increase in the level of diplomatic relations and an exchange of ambassadors.

Source: MENA