Further warming of relations: Erdogan said Bennett may visit Turkey as part of "new era"

The President of Turkey expressed interest in cooperating with Israel in the field of energy and said that one of the important steps that the countries need to take to strengthen ties is in the field of natural gas.

According to him, Bennett may visit Turkey as part of the renewal of relations between the two countries.

This is against the background of Herzog's visit to Ankara about two weeks ago

Reuters

25/03/2022

Friday, 25 March 2022, 12:03 Updated: 12:39

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In the video: The reception for President Herzog in Erdogan's palace in Ankara (Photo: Reuters, GPO)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said today (Friday) that Prime Minister Naftali Bennett may visit Turkey.

"His arrival could start a new era in Turkey-Israel relations," he noted.

This, against the background of President Yitzhak Herzog's visit to Ankara about two weeks ago.

As part of the visit, the president met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, 14 years since the last official visit of a senior Israeli official to the country.

At the same time, Erdogan explained that Turkey is interested in cooperating with Israel in the field of energy.

"One of the most important steps we can take together for bilateral ties will be natural gas," he said, adding that the details of such cooperation would be discussed by Turkey's foreign and energy ministers during their visit to Israel.

Herzog is the first Israeli president to visit Turkey since 2007, when then-president Shimon Peres arrived in Ankara.

This is also the first visit by a senior Israeli official to Ankara since 2008, when Prime Minister Ehud Olmert arrived at the time for a meeting with Erdogan, who would then mediate between Israel and Syria.

One week after that visit, Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip began, leading to a public outcry by Erdogan against Israel, which actually began the crisis in relations.

More on Walla!

Following Herzog's visit: Israel and Turkey will establish a mechanism to prevent relations crises

To the full article

"A new era in Turkey-Israel relations."

Herzog and Erdogan in Ankara (Photo: Reuters)

At the end of the meeting between Herzog and Erdogan, the Turkish president said that the visit was a "turning point in relations between the two countries."

He added that he emphasized to President Herzog the importance that Turkey attaches to the Palestinian issue and the situation in the al-Aqsa Mosque.

"I emphasized to President Herzog that anti-Semitism is a crime against humanity. The coexistence between Jews and Muslims in Turkey has lasted for centuries."

Erdogan added that the two also discussed the issue of the war in Ukraine, and that he had expressed to President Herzog his desire for cooperation with Israel in the field of energy.

He concluded: "I hope this visit will be an opening for shared future opportunities."

At the end of the meeting, President Herzog addressed the amendment of relations between the two countries.

"Unfortunately, relations between our countries have gone through a period of drought in recent years. Now, I believe that relations between the countries will be examined in actions that reflect a spirit of mutual respect, and will allow us to better address the regional and global challenges we all share. Israel and Turkey can cooperate About this space that we all get to call "home".

"Anti-Semitism is a crime against humanity."

Herzog and Erdogan (Photo: Reuters)

Herzog's visit to Turkey took place against the background of statements by the Turkish president in the past year and even more so since the formation of the new government in Israel that he is interested in warming relations with Israel after an ongoing crisis of nearly 15 years.

Senior Israeli officials claim that Erdogan's remarks come against the background of the difficult economic situation in Turkey, the strained relations with the Biden administration and the strengthening of Israel's regional status following the Abrahamic agreements.

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