For many Israelis, who have fond memories of vacations at Turkey’s coastal resorts, which attracted up to half a million Israeli tourists a year before the diplomatic rift, the fallout from the diplomatic deal was more emotional. In addition, he said, the deal provided an opening for lucrative projects like the marketing of Israel’s natural gas reserves to Turkey, and via Turkey to Europe. As Turkish officials hailed the deal as a diplomatic victory, rivals of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel from the left and right called him to task. Many Israelis also questioned what they called the “gifts to Hamas,” the Islamic militant group that controls Gaza. Advertisement Continue reading the main storyThe deal comes as Israel and Turkey face tough challenges stemming from the meltdown of Syria and other states in the region.

Source: New York Times June 27, 2016 19:28 UTC