page_title: Israel–Turkey relations
section_title: Reconciliation agreement
hierarchical_section_title: Israel–Turkey relations / Diplomatic relations / After AKP ascendancy / Reconciliation agreement
caption_attribution_description: עברית: שגריר טורקיה בישראל כאמל אוקום מגיש את כתב האמנתו לנשיא מדינת ישראל ראובן ריבלין Türkçe: Kemal Ökem
context_page_description: Israeli–Turkish relations are the bilateral ties between the Israel and the Republic of Turkey. Israel–Turkey relations were formalized in March 1949, when Turkey was the first Muslim majority country to recognize the State of Israel. Both countries gave high priority to military, strategic, and diplomatic cooperation, while sharing concerns with respect to the regional instabilities in the Middle East.
context_section_description: A reconciliation agreement was announced on 27 June 2016 to end the six-year rift in the relation between both countries.
  The Turkish Parliament will pass a law canceling all appeals against Israeli soldiers involved in the killing of nine Turkish citizens during the Gaza flotilla raid and will also block any future claims.
  Commitment to stop terrorist or military activity against Israel on Turkish soil including funding and aid to such activities from Turkey. Palestinian movement Hamas will be allowed to operate on Turkish soil but only as a political movement.
  Turkey will accept to send all aid to the Gaza Strip through Israel and then from Israel to Gaza on land.
  Israel will allow Turkey to advance humanitarian projects in the Gaza Strip, such as building an hospital, power station and a desalination station, all subjected to Israeli security considerations
  Israel will give $20 million as compensation for the families of those who died and were injured in the raid. The money will be transferred through a humanitarian fund in Turkey. An Israel official said the money will be transferred only after the Turkish parliament will pass the law renouncing all appealings against Israeli soldiers involved in the incident.
  The two countries will start a process of renormalizing their relations, reappointing ambassadors to Ankara and Tel Aviv and ending all sanctions between the two.
  The agreement was approved by the Israeli security cabinet by a vote of 7–3 on 29 June.
  The agreement was then approved by the Turkish parliament on 20 August 2016. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan then signed the agreement on 31 August.
  On 7 October, Turkey named foreign policy expert Kemal Okem as ambassador to Israel. Israel's decision to name an ambassador was later postponed.
  On 15 November, Israel named Eitan Na'eh as ambassador to Turkey. In a reciprocal move, Erdogan confirmed on 16 November the nomination of Kemal Okem as Turkish ambassador to Israel. Na'eh arrived in Ankara on 31 November. Turkey also agreed to drop charges against four Israeli soldiers on 8 December. On 12 December, Okem arrived in Jerusalem.
caption: Turkish ambassador to Israel Kemal Ökem presents his Letter of credence to the president of Israel Reuven Rivlin on 12 December 2016
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