Flotilla cancelation begins to thaw Turkish-Israeli ties

Israel is acting more warmly toward Turkey following a Turkish relief group's decision to cancel its participation in an aid flotilla to Gaza, Turkish officials said yesterday. "Israel's approach to mending fences with Turkey has never been interrupted since (last year's) Mavi Marmara incident," said one a senior Turkish Foreign Ministry diplomat. Daily Hurriyet yesterday reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had acceded to Turkey's request for an apology for the killing of Turkish citizens on board the Mavi Marmara in May 2010, but backed out on three separate occasions due to fear his coalition government might fall. The report cited leaks from secret meetings between Ankara and Tel Aviv. "A number of contacts at the technical level took place, but our position has never changed," said the diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.