He also revealed that a Turkish ship loaded with over 10,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid for Gaza will leave for the Israeli port of Ashdod on Friday.
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Ten Turkish activists were killed in the 2010 raid, which was protesting the Israeli government’s blockade of Gaza.
Israel and Turkey on Monday announced a reconciliation deal to end a bitter six-year rift between the Mideast powers.
He said rapprochement will create “stability” in a turbulent Middle East.
The United States has also pushed for the two countries to resolve the dispute as it seeks cooperation in the fight against extremists from the Islamic State group.
The accord, wrapped up during the weekend, whose details will be announced later on Monday, “will have huge implications for the Israeli economy and is an important step”, Netanyahu commented on the sidelines of a meeting with U.S. secretary of State John Kerry. “This is a step we wanted to see happen”.
For his part, Netanyahu stressed that his country’s maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip would remain following the agreement, though Turkey obtained aid concessions to be reached to Palestine.
The deal is set to go before Israel’s so-called security cabinet for approval on Wednesday.
Reports in recent days described a compromise on the issue.
Under the reported terms of the deal, Israel will allow the completion of a much-needed hospital in Gaza, as well as the construction of a new power station and a desalination plant for drinking water. Netanyahu said the deal would give a big boost to the Israeli economy by opening the key Turkish market to Israeli natural gas exports and by providing a gateway to the European market as well.
Responding to criticism of the agreement heard in Israel, from both the left and the right, including that paying $20 million to a funds for the families of the victims was a “humiliation”, Netanyahu said that this accord promotes Israel’s “vital interests”, and that he would not be deterred by the criticism. Days after taking office last month, new Prime Minister Yildirim said Turkey needed to “increase its friends and decrease its enemies”, in what appeared a tacit admission that his predecessor’s policies had left the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation member isolated.
He said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had personally sent a letter pledging to do all he could on the matter.
Yıldırım said the embargo on Gaza would “largely be lifted under the leadership of Turkey”.
Israel owns huge untapped gas fields which need to be developed. The Kremlin responded to the downing of the plane by slapping trade restrictions on Ankara, including freezing work on a pipeline to ship Russian gas to Europe via Turkey and advising Russian tourists to avoid Turkish resorts.
Meanwhile, on Monday, Netanyahu hailed the deal as “an important step” that will have “immense” impact on the Israeli economy. As the deal will be an global agreement approved by the parliament, it will be positioned above domestic law and all charges against Israeli navy officers will need to be dropped.
In addition, normalised ties could open opportunities for further cooperation between North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and Israel since Turkey’s objections would be lifted, analysts say.
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Ankara’s efforts to mediate Hamas’ potential repatriation of the remains of two Israeli soldiers killed in the 2014 Gaza war, along with two Israeli citizens thought to be held in Gaza. The restrictions were tightened a year later when Hamas took control of the enclave.
