Israel apologizes to Turkey: A diplomatic coup for Obama

The sudden and unexpected reconciliation could ease Israel's growing isolation in the region

President Obama is flanked by Israeli President Shimon Peres (left) and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before his departure from the Holy Land.
(Image credit: Lior Mizrahi/Getty Images)

On the last day of President Obama's visit to Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized to Turkey for a commando raid in 2010 that killed nine people aboard a Turkish ship trying to break a sea blockade of the Gaza Strip. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan accepted the apology, a significant step toward reconciling the two countries after years of estrangement.

The ship, the Mavi Marmara, had led a flotilla that was trying to provide aid to Gazans, but was blocked by the Israeli military. The ensuing raid killed eight Turkish citizens and an American of Turkish origin, leading to a highly public fallout between Israel and one of its strongest Muslim allies.

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Ryu Spaeth

Ryu Spaeth is deputy editor at TheWeek.com. Follow him on Twitter.