(Reuters) - Israel apologized to Turkey on Friday for killing nine Turkish citizens in a 2010 naval raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla and the two feuding U.S. allies agreed to normalize relations in a surprise breakthrough announced by U.S. President Barack Obama.

The rapprochement could help regional coordination to contain spillover from the Syrian civil war and ease Israel's diplomatic isolation in the Middle East as it faces challenges posed by Iran's nuclear program.


In a statement released by the White House only minutes before Obama ended a visit to Israel, the president said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan had spoken by telephone.

"The United States deeply values our close partnerships with both Turkey and Israel, and we attach great importance to the restoration of positive relations between them in order to advance regional peace and security," Obama said.

The first conversation between the two leaders since 2011, when Netanyahu phoned to offer help after an earthquake struck Turkey, gave Obama a diplomatic triumph in a visit to Israel and the Palestinian Territories in which he offered no new plan to revive peace talks frozen for nearly three years.

The 30-minute call was made in a runway trailer at Tel Aviv airport, where Obama and Netanyahu huddled before the president boarded Air Force One for a flight to Jordan, U.S. officials said.

Israel bowed to a long-standing demand by Ankara, once a close strategic partner, to apologize formally for the deaths aboard the Turkish vessel Mavi Marmara, which was boarded by Israeli marines who intercepted a flotilla challenging Israel's naval blockade of the Palestinian-run Gaza Strip.

"In light of Israel's investigation into the incident which pointed to a number of operational mistakes, the prime minister expressed Israel's apology to the Turkish people for any mistakes that might have led to the loss of life or injury," Netanyahu's office said in a statement in English.

It added that he had agreed to conclude an agreement on compensation.

Netanyahu and Erdogan "agreed to restore normalization between the two countries, including returning their ambassadors (to their posts)," the statement said.

A statement issued by Erdogan's office said he had "accepted this apology." It also said the Turkish leader told Netanyahu "that he valued centuries-long strong friendship and cooperation between the Turkish and Jewish nations".

HockeyDad wrote:

HD, is this true? If yes, it's pretty significant. Turkey is big enough to make a difference.

frankj1 wrote:

For what?


MORE US taxpayer money?


Gimmie a break.

DrMaddVibe wrote:

not sure what you think I meant.
should be clear that Israel's security could only be enhanced if Turkey calmed down and returned to the way things were. Certainly they may go the way of Egypt as Wheel said, but they had been pretty hostile toward Israel of late anyway. Of course, they have been pretty hostile toward Syria too...

This may not fix it, but it might improve it.

frankj1 wrote:

What I meant was Doc, I didn't ask you to explain what you meant.

what Bill got...you couldn't grasp that though.

We're spending BILLIONS a year down a hole with this B$ game of playing sides in that rat hole of the world.

Step away for a second...would that money have been better served here in America?

We already know the outcome of one and it's an endless war scenario with a spigot of US taxpayer cash.

Before you even dare utter..."But we're safer with their intel ...blah blah blah...Israel has killed our own service members...where's OUR apology? Why do we go to war for them? Cut them loose. This insanity has to stop. We're broke and an easy way to save BILLIONS...is to cut it. Turkey? F them too! They're in it for themselves...they want our money and military technology as well.

WAKE THE **** UP.

DrMaddVibe wrote:

I was merely being polite to you by overlooking your atrocious reading comprehension skills.

Back up a couple entries and consider these words again...I did not write that I didn't understand what YOU wrote, I stated "not sure what you think I meant".

If it makes you happy to turn all of your misunderstandings into endless repetetive mouth foaming, so be it. But before you mistakenly replied to what I had not said, I gave you no reason to have a psychotic episode. Your error entirely.

My thoughts in replying to the op are simple for most readers, so slow down, stop reading with your fingers hovering over the keyboard. It's simple, no need to twist my words... if Turkey normalizes relations with Israel that would be big for Israel's security. I did not address my nor your tax dollars going anywhere. The US wasn't in my thoughts.

No need to say it, I accept your apology.

BTW, while you're at it, send a bill to Egypt for the same billions owed with absolutely nothing to show for it except poor quality cotton shirts and sheets.

frankj1 wrote:

Ummmm...Egypt, under Mubarak (sp:?) was instrumental in helping us in a number of things when it came to intel, and military actions. The better-known incident was Charlie Wilson's War (suppplying Afghan rebels to hit back at the Soviets).

If you're talking present-day, then indeed, Egypt is pretty much useless. Then again, Edi Amin Jr. allowed that to happen on his watch.

jpotts wrote:

Just what do you think is of such special value that we've benefited above the cash donations year in and year out from Israel?

DrMaddVibe wrote:

Just what do you think is of such special value that we've benefited above the cash donations year in and year out from Israel?

DrMaddVibe wrote:

Certainly they have contributed more than Egypt!

frankj1 wrote:

Hey.....Egypt built the Pyramids! One of the great wonders of the world.

HockeyDad wrote:

HD?! Never did I expect to snare you in my trap.

I purposely left out the term "modern day Egypt" expecting the Pyramid response. And then I planned to mention that they were built by the Jews!

And then I was gonna say how it all ties in so neatly as Passover begins at sundown today. Passover, commemorating the Jews escaping from the bonds of slavery in Egypt...Exodus! Let My People Go! Moses, the plagues, Red Sea parting, 40 years in the desert, 10 Commandments, Golden Calf, new tablets (Moses lost his cool), and then The Promised Land...where God turned over ownership in the real estate to the Jews, I think by using a quitclaim deed, better google it.

Happy Passover and a Joyful Easter to you and yours, HD.

frankj1 wrote:

Hey.....Egypt built the Pyramids! One of the great wonders of the world.

HockeyDad wrote: