Turkey is seeking to normalize its relations with both Egypt and Israel. Two countries which it had a falling out with over the past five years. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan chaired a government cabinet meeting on February 22 on foreign policy which lasted for nine hours. The meeting was held in the presidential palace in Ankara where it was suggested ministerial-level meetings could be held with Egypt, a move which Erdogan said he supported, Hurriyet Daily News reported. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu added that Turkey was making headway in normalizing its ties with Israel to the extent that both countries may make a joint statement about the state of their progress "in the coming days." Turkey fell out with Egypt following the July 2013 Egyptian military coup against the Muslim Brotherhood President Mohammed Morsi. Erdogan refused to recognize the new government of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, since he is a supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood. It fell out with Israel much earlier. On May 31, 2010 when Israeli commandos raided the Mavi Marmara flotilla, which was seeking to break the Israeli blockade on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, leaving ten Turks dead. Turkey bitterly condemned Israel and demanded Israel apologize, pay reparations and lift the blockade on Gaza in return for normalization. Israel has fulfilled the first two conditions to date and has also eased the blockade.
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