ROME (AP) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that his nation’s agreement with Turkey to normalize ties will have “immense” implications for the Israeli economy.
The Israel-Turkey reconciliation deal, which is to be officially announced later in the day, is meant to end a bitter six-year rift between the Mideast powers. News of the deal first emerged on Sunday, and an Israeli official confirmed the details of the deal to The Associated Press. He spoke on condition of anonymity pending a formal announcement.
Speaking in Rome during talks with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Rome, Netanyahu said Monday the agreement is an important step, alluding to the development of Israel’s offshore natural gas reserves.
“I use that word advisedly, immense implications for the Israeli economy, and I mean positive immense implications,” the Israeli prime minister said.
As Netanyahu and Kerry met for the second time in as many days, the U.S. top diplomat welcomed the agreement and congratulated Netanyahu. He said the U.S. has been working on the rapprochement for several years, and called it a “positive step.”