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Obama says timing was right for Israel, Turkey to start restoring normal relations

AMMAN, Jordan – President Barack Obama says the timing on his trip to Israel was right for Turkey and Israel to start restoring normal diplomatic relations.

That process started Friday after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and apologized for errors that resulted in deaths of activists aboard a Gaza-bound flotilla in 2010. Obama, who was in Israel, brokered the call. He says Netanyahu agreed it was the right moment.

Obama says he’s long felt it was important the two countries restore good relations so they can pursue common interests. He says Turkey and Israel don’t have to agree on everything to be able to work together on regional security and other issues.

Obama spoke at a news conference with Jordan’s King Abdullah II.

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