Withdrawal of Mavi Marmara gaza flotilla sparks hope for Turkish-Israeli reconciliation

The withdrawal of Turkish ship the Mavi Marmara from an aid flotilla due to set sail to Gaza later this month has sparked hope of mended Turkish-Israeli ties. "We hope this step will bring a new opening towards consensus between Israel and Turkey," Israeli daily Haaretz quoted an Israeli Foreign Ministry official as saying. The Mavi Marmara, the scene of a deadly raid last year by Israeli commandos, was withdrawn due to technical problems.