Good News! Turkish parliament approves Israel deal

The Turkish parliament on Saturday approved a deal to normalise ties with Israel after a delay caused attempted coup, state-run media reported.

Lawmakers ratified the agreement to restore relations after a six-year rift before parliament was due to go into summer recess.

Under the deal, Israel will pay Turkey $20 million (17.7 million euros) in damages for the 2010 raid by Israeli commandos on a Gaza-bound Turkish assistance ship that left 10 Turks dead, state-run Anadolu news agency said.

Israel will hand Turkey a “lump sum” within 25 working days of the agreement coming into force, the bureau said.

Under the terms of the deal, both sides concurred individual Israeli citizens wouldn’t be held liable – either criminally or fiscally – for the raid, Anadolu reported.

Israeli cabinet ministers approved the deal with Turkey Ankara although in June failed to send it to parliament due to time pressure by a rogue faction that was military.

Now the deal was approved, both countries are anticipated to start the process of exchanging ambassadors to completely restore diplomatic ties.

The arrangement also eases the naval blockade on the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip allowing Turkey to deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians there.