Turkish parliament approves Israel reconciliation deal

Turkey's parliament has approved a reconciliation deal that was reached with Israel last month, ending a six-year rift between the two countries.

The deal paves the way for the restoration of full diplomatic ties after a diplomatic row following Israel's killing of Turkish activists six years ago.

Parliament voted to approve the pact early on Saturday before it closed for a summer recess.

In June, Turkey and Israel signed a deal to restore their ties which hit an all-time low after the 2010 raid by Israeli commandos on a Gaza-bound Turkish aid ship that left 10 Turks dead.

The text of the agreement submitted to parliament reaffirms that Israel will pay Turkey $20 million [17.8 million euros] in compensation within 25 days.

The legal case targeting the Israeli commandos who staged the raid will also be dropped, the report said.

Israeli cabinet ministers in June approved the deal with Turkey, leaving Ankara to make the final ratification step.

But the Turkish government initially failed to send the deal to parliament because of time pressure created by the failed coup attempt by rogue elements in the military, which Turkey blames on US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen.

Now the normalisation deal is ratified by parliament, Turkey and Israel will begin the process of exchanging ambassadors to fully restore their diplomatic ties.