By Janet Ekstract
ISTANBUL- The meeting earlier this week on Wednesday between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Israeli Foreign Minister and alternate Prime Minister Yair Lapid was nothing short of historic since it was the first time in 15 years that a senior Turkish official made a formal visit to Israel. As Lapid said: “Nations with long histories always know how to close one chapter, and open a new one.” He added: “That is what we are doing here today.”
The aim of the two countries includes deepening economic, security and diplomatic cooperation in a number of areas. Previously, Israel and Turkey had a tense relationship after Turkish President Erdogan repeatedly, sharply criticized the Israeli government’s treatment of Palestinians. In 2018, both Turkey and Israel recalled their ambassadors after former president Trump’s decision to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and both countries have yet to reappoint ambassadors. Nevertheless, over the last several months, both nations have initiated steps to improve their relationship. In March, Israel and Turkey announced a new era in relations when Erdogan met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and a Jewish delegation in Istanbul.
Cavusoglu highlighted that a major goal on the Turkish agenda is the Turkish government’s desire to facilitate, what the foreign minister referred to as “dialogue” between Israeli and Palestinian officials. Cavusoglu praised what he called “constructive” talks with Lapid when the two met in Jerusalem on Wednesday. Both ministers discussed a number of measures to further bilateral ties. Both Israel and Turkey agreed to renew a discussion to allow Israeli airlines to fly to Turkey and they agreed to relaunch the activity of a bilateral Joint Economic Commission.
In commenting, at a joint press conference, after their meeting, Israel’s Foreign Minister Lapid said: “We won’t pretend that our relationship has not seen its ups and downs.” While Cavusoglu said: “We believe that normalization of our ties will have a positive impact on peaceful resolution of the conflict,” referring to the ongoing unrest between Palestinians and the Israeli government. The Turkish foreign minister said he is hopeful that the new era in ties will lead to more beneficial dialogue between the two countries on a number of issues. He reiterated that Turkey would like to see a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and is hopeful this can be achieved in the future.
Cavusoglu commented that he discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with both sides, and reiterated Turkey’s stance “that a two-state solution with UN parameters is the only solution for a durable peace. Cavusoglu added that “Turkey is ready to take responsibility to continue the efforts towards dialogue” between Israeli and Palestinian officials. Prior to visiting Israel, Cavusoglu met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and other Palestinian officials in Ramallah in the West Bank. He signed several cooperation agreements with Palestinians during the talks.
