Israel & Turkey: Time to Repair Relations?

Relations between Tel-Aviv and Ankara are set to get back on track after a series of statements blaming each other since Israel's Gaza offensive a year ago. Defense Minister Ehud Barak announced Thursday that he had accepted an invitation to visit Turkey in January. Barak received the invitation from Turkey's envoy to Israel, Ahmet Oguz Çelikkol.

Barak said Israel's relations with Turkey were of "strategic importance" and added, "Turkey is a key and important player in the region in reference to Israel's relations with its neighbors. Relations with Turkey are important on many different levels."

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