Good News In The Middle East?

There are reports in the media of a series of secret meetings between high ranking representatives of Turkey and Israel in an effort to "normalize" the relations between the two countries.  Nothing is final according to these reports, but the outlines of an agreement have been reached.  Basically, there will be some compensation to those injured on the Marmara (a Turkish ship that tried to run the blockade of Gaza a few years ago), ambassadors from each country will return to the other, Hamas officials will be banned from Turkey and discussions on running a gas pipeline from Israel to Turkey will proceed soon. 

The key here seems to be the gas pipeline and the Russians.  Israel has discovered massive off shore reserves of natural gas.  If some of that gas is piped to Turkey under the Mediterranean Sea, it will provide the Turks another source of energy independent from Russian/Syrian/Iranian control.  It will also allow the Turks to resell the gas to nations in Southern Europe thereby reducing Russian profits on their sale of natural gas.  It seems that the Turks are more than willing to enlist Israel to strengthen Turkey's position in the fight against Shiite/Iranian domination of the region.

For its part, Israel will get the cooperation of one of the largest Moslem nations in the region as well as a market for its energy exports.

It's a good development if it comes to pass.