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Why Israel needs Turkey now more than ever

Israel and Turkey are strengthening their relations as both keep a wary eye on Iran's outreach to the world and regional countries.
Employees from a Turkish-owned company in Israel protest against the recent tensions between the two countries outside the Turkish embassy in Tel Aviv December 28, 2010. Israel will not apologise to Turkey for a May raid on a Turkish-led convoy that killed nine Turkish  activists and talks to mend ties have so far fallen short, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday.  REUTERS/Nir Elias (ISRAEL - Tags: POLITICS) - RTXW1ZV

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani is on a historic tour in the European Union this week. Accompanied by an esteemed entourage of about 100 Iranian businessmen, Rouhani was received with honors in Italy. In Rome he met with Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and was received at the Vatican by Pope Francis. From Italy he will continue to France, where he’ll meet with President Francois Hollande at the Elysee Palace. At each of these capitals, Rouhani will seek to fill a large shopping basket he’s brought with him from Tehran, which is now rushing to fulfill the nuclear agreement that went into force Jan. 16, almost two weeks ago.

This market, where Iran has been shopping since international economic sanctions have been lifted, is full of hungry buyers and sellers, equally eager to close multimillion dollar deals.

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