(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) ISTANBUL, June 27 (KUNA) -- Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim announced reaching a deal to normalize relations with Israel, after a six-year halt.
The deal will be signed on Tuesday and the two sides will exchange ambassadors afterwards, said Yildrim in a press conference held in Ankara on Monday.
As part of the deal, Israel will pay USD 20 million in compensation for families of the victims of the 2010 Mavi Marmara ship raid, which killed ten Turkish activists and severed ties between the two sides, said Yildrim.
Meanwhile, Israel will allow a Turkish ship carrying 10,000 tons of aid to Gaza Strip, to pass through Ashdod port next Friday, he added.
After the Mavi Marmara attack, Turkey demanded an official apology from Israel, compensations for victims'' families and ending the siege on Gaza, however, the demands were fully ignored by Israel.
In 2013, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized to the then-Turkish Premier and now President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the attack. In recent months, the two sides have been engaged in talks aiming at normalizing ties. (end) ta.ag