Israeli PM apologizes to Turkey over Gaza flotilla deaths, agrees to compensation
In their first phone conversation since 2010, the Israeli PM has apologized to Turkish PM Erdogan for deaths in the Gaza flotilla raid, Reuters reports citing a US official. Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly agreed to compensation for bereaved families. Recep Tayyip Erdogan accepted the apology and agreed with his Israeli counterpart on the need to normalize the relationship that deteriorated after the UN report in 2011 made public the storming of a Turkish aid flotilla. As back then no apology followed from Israel, Ankara expelled its ambassador and froze military cooperation with the country. The news on the telephone call was broken by US President Barack Obama himself.