Relations between the two countries, once strong allies, have been in tatters since May 2010, when Israeli troops raided a flotilla of ships carrying aid from Turkey to Gaza. The raid killed nine Turkish citizens and prompted the Turkish government to expel its Israeli ambassador and recall its own from Israel. The countries’ two powerful militaries, once close partners, began to regard each other as hostile forces, and lucrative trade dried up. Even the number of Israeli tourists to Turkey, who once flocked there, dwindled amid fears that the country was no longer safe for travel.

Turkish Foreign Ministry has kicked off an annual program to train 67 young foreign diplomats from 67 different countries. The training program, called “International Young Diplomats Training Program, will be held between April 1 and 24, a Foreign Ministry statement said on Sunday.

After nearly three years of political tension, diplomatic maneuvering, and back-channel negotiations, Israel has formally apologized to Turkey for the killing of nine Turkish citizens onboard the ship Mavi Marmara in 2010. On behalf of the Turkish people, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accepted Israel’s apology.

Did you know Yemeni Kurds support Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s peace efforts with the Kurdistan Workers Party? The March 6 tweets from Yasin Aktay, a prominent pro-Justice and Development Party (AKP) pundit, say they do.

In the wake of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's apology Friday to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan over the deaths of nine Turkish activists aboard the 2010 Gaza flotilla, the two countries have set the wheels in motion to pay compensation over the deaths, with Israel set to pay out as much as tens of millions of dollars, according to sources in Turkey.

Officials say before he left Israel, he helped facilitate a phone call between prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Turkish leader Rayjep Erdogan. Turkey and Israel cut ties after Israeli forces launched a deadly raid on a Turkish ship trying to reach Gaza in 2010.

Turkey and Poland on Thursday signed a "Declaration of Will" for activities to mark the 600th year of diplomatic relations in 2014. A ceremony took place in the Polish capital of Warsaw on Thursday for the declaration. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu signed the declaration on behalf of Turkey and his Polish counterpart Radoslaw Sikorski signed it on behalf of Poland..."This is an honoring moment for me. Our two countries have good relations in all fields," Davutoglu said.

Turkey's National Education Minister Nabi Avci said on Thursday, "Palestine is the name of an honorable and prideful struggle for life."
He added, "this struggle will reach victory via works to be held in fields of education and culture."