Turkey, Israel sign deal to normalise ties after six years

Turkey and Israel signed an agreement on 28 June 2016 to restore ties after a six-year rift. The accord had been announced on the previous day by the two countries' prime ministers and was named by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as a 'hopeful signal' for regional stability.

According to media sources, the agreement was driven by the prospect of substantial gas deals as well as mutual fears over growing security risks.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Turkey and Israel: Time to kiss and make up? http://www.europeansources.info/record/turkey-and-israel-time-to-kiss-and-make-up/

ESO: Background Information: Israel and Turkey eye ties on Syria http://www.europeansources.info/record/israel-and-turkey-eye-ties-on-syria/

TRT World, 27.06.16: Turkey, Israel normalise relations, ending years of drama http://www.trtworld.com/mea/turkey-israel-normalise-relations-ending-years-of-drama-132950

The New York Times, 27.06.16: Diplomatic Deal With Turkey Upsets Israelis Wary of Conceding Too Much http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/28/world/middleeast/israel-turkey-diplomatic-relations.html

The Guardian, 27.06.16: Israel and Turkey end six-year standoff https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/26/israel-and-turkey-to-announce-end-of-six-year-stand-off

The Times of Israel, 26.06.16: Israel, Turkey reach rapprochement deal, ending years of bitter ties http://www.timesofisrael.com/turkey-president-commits-to-help-free-israelis-from-gaza-as-deal-nears/

BBC News, 27.06.16: Israel and Turkey end rift over Gaza flotilla killings http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-36639834

The Wall Street Journal, 27.06.16: Turkey, Israel Trumpet Benefits of Deal to Normalize Relations http://www.wsj.com/articles/turkey-israel-trumpet-benefits-of-bilateral-deal-to-normalize-relations-1467042096

The Economist, 27.06.16: Israel and Turkey restore relations http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21701419-end-years-tension-israel-and-turkey-restore-relations

The Wall Street Journal, 26.06.16: Israel and Turkey to Restore Full Diplomatic Ties http://www.wsj.com/articles/israel-and-turkey-to-restore-full-diplomatic-ties-1466965042

Haaretz, 28.06.16: 6 Must Reads on the Israel-Turkey Reconciliation Agreement http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.727500

Deutsche Welle, 28.06.16: Israel, Turkey ink reconciliation pact http://dw.com/p/1JEti

EurActiv, 21.06.16: Offshore gas seen as game changer in Israel-Turkey relations http://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/offshore-gas-seen-as-game-changer-in-israel-turkey-relations/

Hürriyet Daily News, 28.06.16: Opposition parties slam gov’t over Israel deal http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/opposition-parties-slam-govt-over-israel-deal.aspx?PageID=238&NID=101024&NewsCatID=338

ESO: Background Information: The amazing speed of Turkey’s foreign policy U-turn http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-amazing-speed-of-turkeys-foreign-policy-u-turn/

---