ISRAEL TO GIVE BACK TURKEY'S AID SHIPS

TEL AVIV (A.A) - 23.07.2010 - Israel decided on Friday to give aid ships back to Turkey.
Israel will make required logistic arrangements to set free the three Turkish ships which it seized with a raid on May 31 when the ships were carrying aid to Gaza, and inform Turkey about the details in coming days. 
Three Turkish ships have been kept at Israeli ports since May 31.
An Israeli Foreign Ministry executive confirmed the decision, which had been made with the consent of all concerned authorities.
The executive said the decision was made in line with efforts to better relations and re-build confidence.
The military spokesperson is expected to make the official statement regarding the decision.
Nine people, including eight Turkish and one U.S. citizen of Turkish descent, were killed when Israeli forces raided a Gaza-bound aid flotilla on May 31. Around 30 people were wounded in the attack.
Israel detained the passengers of the ships for a few days after the raid, and sent the majority of the passengers to Turkey.
The aid in the ships were sent to border crossings to be distributed in Gaza.
"Mavi Marmara" ship has been kept at Haifa port, and the other two Turkish ships "Defne" and "Gazze (Gaza)" at Ashdod port.