Israel Promises To Lift Blockade On Palestinian Territories: Turkish PM

2013-03-23 06:23:53
RAMALLAH, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday phoned Palestinian leaders following his Israeli counterpart's apology to Turkey over a 2010 raid against Gaza-bound Turkish flotilla and said Israel has promised to lift the blockade on imports to the Palestinian areas.

After the apology, agreement was reached between Turkey and Israel to normalize the bilateral relations.

The official Palestinian news agency Wafa said that President Mahmoud Abbas extended "his deep appreciation to the Turkish government's positions that support the Palestinian cause and the peace process."

Meanwhile, a Hamas statement said that Erdogan called Khaled Mashaal, the politburo chief of the militant group that controls Gaza, and told him that Israel has promised to compensate the families of the Turkish victims and to relax the blockade on imports to the Palestinian areas.

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http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2013-03/23/c_132255720.htm