CAIRO
A spokesperson for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Emira Oron on Monday said that they began permitting the entry of needed materials into Gaza after Israel apologized to Turkey over the "Mavi Marmara" raid of May 2010 which had left nine Turks dead, last Friday.
Speaking to the Anadolu Agency (AA), Oron argued that the embargo on Gaza was "simple" and that Israel changed its embargo policy on Gaza and permitted the entry of needed materials.
"While I do not have details on the phone conversation between Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a decision was made during the phone conversation on ending the embargo on Gaza," Oron noted.
"While the Israeli apology to Turkey was an important and positive step, it was not sufficient to normalize relations between the two countries. The two sides have to make certain concessions to improve diplomatic relations, brought down to the most minimum level after the 'Mavi Marmara' incident, and in order to facilitate consensus on other issues. Further, the two sides need to take steps in solving regional problems, including the Syrian crisis," Oron underlined.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu had apologized to the Turkish people in a phone conversation he held with Erdogan on Friday and accepted to pay reparations to the families of the victims of 'Mavi Marmara' raid and to lift an embargo on the entry of needed materials to Palestinians territories, including Gaza.
