Turkey, Israel to hold political consultations

By  Trend

Turkey and Israel will hold political consultations for the first time in the last six years, Anadolu agency reported.

The consultations will take place in Ankara on February  1. The Turkish delegation will be headed by Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Umit Yalcin and Israel’s delegation will be headed by Yuval Rotem, director general of the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

Besides, one of the Turkish Cabinet’s officials is expected to visit Israel during the week.

Turkey and Israel are currently aiming at normalizing the bilateral relations and increasing the number of mutual visits.

In July 2016, Turkey and Israel signed an agreement on normalization of relations after the crisis connected to the Freedom Flotilla incident in 2010, when a convoy of six ships, including one flying Turkey’s flag, tried to approach the Gaza Strip with humanitarian aid and activists on board. The flotilla was blocked and stormed by Israeli forces, with eight Turkish citizens being killed as a result.