Washington has proposed a formula for ending the diplomatic stand-off between Israel and Turkey. The US plan calls for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Turkish counterpart Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to hold a secret telephone conversation, following which each will make a separate announcement to his nation. "Ma'ariv" reported this morning that Erdogan will say that Israel apologized for the Marmara deaths, while Netanyahu will say that he only expressed regret.
According to the plan, each of the countries will provide the other with adequate leeway to present the different types of reconciliation to his country. Following the prime ministers' declaration, Turkey and Israel will raise the level of diplomatic relations, and ambassadors will return to Ankara and Jerusalem.
With respect to the payment of compensation for the Marmara deaths, the US compromise is that instead of Israel transferring funds directly to the families, Turkey will create a special fund with which Israel will coordinate. The fund will then transfer the funds to the families. Although none of these suggestions is new, and despite the fact that it is still unknown whether the two sides will agree to implement them, the US will make every effort to promote it in an effort to preserve its interests in the Middle East.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on December 12, 2011
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