The Palmer Report was ready for release in July. However, it was delayed two months in a failed attempt to facilitate reconciliation between Jerusalem and Ankara.

The relationship between Israel and Turkey hit rock bottom this week when the government in Ankara downgraded diplomatic ties and cancelled all commercial and military agreements between the two countries.

Turkey is expelling the Israeli ambassador and downgrading diplomatic ties following today's publication of a UN report into last year's Gaza flotilla.

Israeli and Turkish diplomats are still seeking a formula whereby the two countries can find a way to put the Gaza flotilla crisis behind them.

The United Nations report on the 2010 flotilla - expected to justify Israel's actions to a large degree - is to be published this weekend. After its release, it will be extremely difficult to reach a compromise.

Israel and Turkey are working to resolve the diplomatic differences that have clouded the once "strategic" relationship between the two countries.

Israeli officials have interpreted the recent announcement by Turkish movement IHH that it would not be participating in the upcoming flotilla to Gaza as a signal of the willingness of the government in Ankara to improve relations.

A combination o

Israeli and Turkish diplomats are hopeful that following the victory of Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Sunday's general elections, an opportunity has opened up for an improvement in relations between the two countries.

A large crowd waving Turkish and Palestinian flags and chanting anti-Israeli slogans welcomed the Mavi Marmara, the Gaza-bound ship on which nine Turkish nationals died after a clash with Israeli commandos last May, as she docked at Istanbul port on Saturday.

The crowd included close relatives and friends of those who were killed, and a ceremony at was held the port to venerate the nine "martyrs", as they are widely known in Turkey.