Turkey has the intention to reconcile with Israel, Turkish Foreign Minister said Saturday at a meeting with journalists in Istanbul.
"We stand for peace with all countries. Why should we want bad relations with the country we offer mediation?", Turkish news agency Anadolu news agency has cited Ahmet Davutoglu.
According to him, there are difficulties with the display of the will for reconciliation on the part of Israel.
"We have the will, but it is very difficult for the opposite side to shape one. The decision to send a firefighting planes took two minutes. If such a decision was required on behalf of Israel towards Turkey, disputes between members of the [Israeli government] coalition would arise and leak to the press and nothing would come out of it," the Minister stressed.
Relations between Turkey and Israel had sharply deteriorated following the May 31 attack on the Gaza-bound humanitarian aid convoy Freedom flotilla by the Israeli military. Following the attack, which killed nine Turks, Ankara announced a review of relations with Tel Aviv and demanded an official apology for the attack and compensation for the families of those killed.
In early December, Turkey has sent two aircraft to assist Israel in combating the largest forest fires in the country's history that claimed the lives of at least 41 people.
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