President Obama gets diplomatic coup before heading to Jordan - brings together two estranged powers

President Barack Obama pays his respects in the Hall of Remembrance after marines laid a wreath on his behalf during his visit to the Yad Vashem


Jerusalem (CNN) -- President Barack Obama arrived in Jordan on Friday after scoring a diplomatic coup just before leaving Israel when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu phoned his Turkish counterpart to apologize for an Israeli commando raid in 2010 that killed eight Turks and an American of Turkish origin in a Gaza-bound flotilla.

The apology, long sought by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan, brought a restoration of normal relations between Turkey and Israel, two vital U.S. allies in the Middle East, according to a statement from Netanyahu's office.

It happened in the phone call during a final meeting between Obama and Netanyahu at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv minutes before Air Force One departed for Jordan.

The Israeli government statement said the apology included an offer of compensation.

Obama, who U.S. officials said also took part in the call at one point, issued a statement that welcomed the development.

"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's statement said. "I am hopeful that today's exchange between the two leaders will enable them to engage in deeper cooperation on this and a range of other challenges and opportunities."

read: http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/22/world/meast/mideast-obama-trip/index.html

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Obama ends Israel visit by bringing together two estranged powers
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President Obama leaves Israel, March 22, 2013