Azerbaijan , Baku, Oct. 7 / Trend E.Kosolapova
Israel should end its demands and offer apologies to Turkey, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in Strasburg on Thursday, Sabah newspaper reported.
"Improvement of Turkish-Israeli relations will promote peace talks," Abbas noted.
The president said Turkey, which previously acted as mediator between Israel and Syria could become a successful mediator in peace talks between Israel and Palestine.
"We have always supported the mediation of Ankara in resolving regional crises," Abbas underscored.
Ankara acted as the international mediator in indirect talks between Syria and Israel three years ago, which ended in December 2008 after worsening in relations between Turkey and Israel.
Relations between Turkey and Israel -- two strategic and military partners -- worsened after Israeli naval attacks on the "Flotilla of Freedom" carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza on May 31. Nine Turks fell victim to a confrontation between Israeli soldiers and international human rights activists on the Turkish ship.
Ankara later demanded that Israel issue an official apology, order an independent international investigation, and pay compensation. However, Tel Aviv stated that it will not apologize. The diplomatic relations between Turkey and Israel passed on the secondary level. Moreover, Ankara has frozen its military cooperation with Tel Aviv and recalled its ambassador.