MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Erdogan approved "the procedural agreement about compensation between the Republic of Turkey and Israeli State," the Anadolu news agency reported, citing a statement by the Turkish presidency's press office.
Earlier in August, Turkey’s parliament, the Grand National Assembly, ratified the bill which stipulates that Israel should transfer $20 million to Turkey within 25 days for a 2010 raid on a Turkish flag-bearing vessel that killed 10 Turkish activists.
Relations between Israel and Turkey deteriorated after the Freedom Flotilla incident in May 2010, when a convoy of six ships, including one sailing under a Turkish flag, tried to approach the Gaza Strip with humanitarian aid and activists on board. The flotilla was blocked and stormed by Israeli forces.
Turkey responded by expelling the Israeli ambassador from the country, recalling its ambassador from Israel and demanding a formal apology from Israel, as well as compensation for the victims' families.
Ankara and Tel Aviv signed the agreement to end six years of tensions on June 28 in Rome after Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim made a respective announcement.
