Israel apologises to Turkey over flotilla deaths The end of President Barack Obama's visit to Israel coincided with an historic apology... It was made by the Israeli government to Turkey for the killing of nine of its citizens during a raid on an aide flotilla to Gaza three years ago. The surprise breakthrough rates as a diplomatic success for Obama. In Istanbul reaction was positive especially news of Israeli intentions to compensate the families of the nine victims. Israel has apologised for such an incident for the very first time in the world history. This is a major political and diplomatic victory,"said Bulent Yildirim, Chairman of the Humanitarian Relief Foundation. The storming of the flotilla by Israeli commandos as it tried to break the Israeli blockade to the Palestinian territory caused a major rift between the two countries. The unexpected rapprochement could help regional coordination to contain the spillover from the Syrian civil war and ease Israel's diplomatic isolation in the region. More about: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Israel attack, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey