Azerbaijan, Baku, 23 March / Trend A.Taghiyeva /
The start of the process of rapprochement with Israel will strengthen Turkey's position in respect of the West, expert on Turkish foreign policy, editor of Milat newspaper Ismail Yasha said.
"Following the truce with Israel, Turkey's position in the eyes of West on regional issues, especially those such as the situation in Syria and Iraq, has strengthened," Yasha told Trend on Saturday.
In addition, the fact that Israel has agreed to lift its blockade of the Gaza Strip is also an important step for Turkey on its way to becoming a regional leader. So, if Israel would really lift the blockade on Gaza, Turkey will undoubtedly strengthen its credibility in the Middle East, according to the expert.
"Now Turkey will increase its role in the settlement of regional conflicts, and strengthen its position as a reliable ally in the eyes of the West," he said.
Yasha also drew attention to the fact that, despite the long persistence of Israel in the issue of an apology, Turkey has not given up any of the conditions of reconciliation, and has received an official apology from Tel Aviv, which is a diplomatic victory for Ankara.
The agreement on the normalization of relations between Turkey and Israel was reached on Friday after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan apologized for violations committed during maritime operation that caused death of Turkish citizens.
As reported by the Office of the Israeli Prime Minister, heads of governments agreed on the restoration of normal relations, including the return of the ambassadors and Turkey's refusal of legal harassment of Israeli soldiers.