'Now Turkey can help Mideast peace process': FM

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Sunday that in the wake of normalizing relations with Israel, Turkey will make a significant contribution to the Middle East peace process.

Appearing on news channel TRT Haber, Cavusoglu said the six-year hiatus in Turkish-Israeli relations has hindered it from helping the process.

"Turkey will make a significant contribution to Middle East peace in the next process," he pledged, on the day a Turkish aid ship carrying 11,000 tons of aid for the Palestinians docked in Israel.

Cavusoglu also said that Turkey wants Palestine to be developed economically. "Gaza and Palestine do need more and more. The infrastructure has collapsed after the [Israeli] attacks. The hospitals and schools have been damaged. The UN buildings have been targeted. For these issues, Turkey will give support [to Palestine]."

"We are establishing an organized industrial site in Jenin where 6,000 people will be employed. We have also removed the obstacles to transferring money directly [to Palestine]," he added

Diplomatic ties between Turkey and Israel were suspended in 2010 after Israeli troops stormed the Gaza-bound Mavi Marmara aid ship in international waters, killing 10 Turkish activists.

The ship was among six civilian vessels trying to break Israel's blockade of Gaza when Israeli commandos boarded it.

In the aftermath of the attack, Turkey demanded a formal apology from Israel, compensation for the families of those killed, and the lifting of Israel’s Gaza blockade.

In 2013, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced regret for the attack.

Last week, months of talks between the two countries finally bore fruit, with Turkey announcing that a deal would be signed, normalizing relations with Israel.

Under the deal, in addition to agreeing to Turkey’s humanitarian presence in Gaza, Israel will pay $20 million in compensation to the families of the Mavi Marmara victims.