Erdogan speaks in favor of normalizing relations with Israel for first time in five years

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for the restoration of ties between Ankara and Tel Aviv, noting that Israel, Palestine and the region can gain a lot from it.

"We have three issues with Israel. We asked for an apology, which happened. We have said that we are waiting for compensation, which did not happen. In addition, we announced the lifting of the embargo on Palestine. The last two points have not been met. I said that if the compensation issue and the lifting of the embargo are achieved then we can enter a process of normalization," Erdogan noted.

There is so much that we, Israel, Palestine and the region can gain from such a normalization process. The region is in need of this and we need to think about the interests of all people living in it," the Haber Turk newspaper cited the president as saying.