Media: Turkish-Israeli negotiations stalled

The negotiations on the normalisation of relations between Israel and Turkey have been suspended because the parties have not agreed on the amount of compensation Tel Aviv must pay to the families of the deceased members of the 'Freedom Flotilla', CNN Turk said on Wednesday.

According to the information, the two sides held two meetings and reached a preliminary agreement. However, the last meeting that was held between Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioglu and special envoy of Israeli Prime Minister Joseph Ciechanover failed. The parties could not come to an agreement over the amount of compensation that Israel must pay to the families of the deceased members of the 'Freedom Flotilla'.

It has been reported that negotiations between Turkey and Israel reached an impasse after this meeting.
The agreement on normalisation of relations between Turkey and Israel was reached in March after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, apologised for violations committed during the maritime operation that resulted in the deaths of Turkish citizens.

The heads of the governments agreed to restore normal relations, including the return of ambassadors and Turkey's refusal of legal harassment against Israeli servicemen.

Relations between Turkey and Israel worsened after the Israeli naval attacks on the 'Flotilla of Freedom' carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza on May 31, 2010. Nine Turks fell victim to the confrontation.

Ankara announced it is reconsidering its relations with Tel Aviv and demanded an official apology was made for the attack and to pay compensation to the families of the victims.