Erdogan talks to Netanyahu about 'new era' in Turkey-'Israel' ties

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
17 Nov 2022 21:35
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During the phone call, Netanyahu expressed his condolences over the terror attack which rocked Istanbul on November 13, and hailed the president's contributions to the implementation of the grain deal.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses the supporters of his ruling Justice and Development Party, AKP, during a rally in Ankara, Turkey, Thursday, March 14, 2019 (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

In a phone call with the Leader of the opposition in "Isreal", Benjamin Netanyahu, who is soon to form a new government, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan highlighted the importance of bilateral relations based on mutual interests, Erdogan's presidential office said on Thursday.

"Highlighting the beginning of a new era in Turkey-Israel relations thanks to the strong will displayed by both sides, President Erdogan said that it was in the shared interest of Turkey and Israel to maintain the relations by respecting sensitivities on the basis of mutual interests," the message read.

Netanyahu in turn expressed his condolences over the terror attack that rocked Istanbul on November 13 and hailed the president's contributions to the implementation of the UN-brokered grain deal.

Erdogan responded that he hopes the elections of the Israeli parliamentary elections will bring auspicious results "for the country and the region."

In 2018, Turkey cut all diplomatic ties with "Israel" and expelled ambassadors over the killing of 60 Palestinians by Israeli forces during protests on the Gaza border.

Palestinians were at the time protesting against the US relocating its embassy to occupied Al-Quds.

Prior to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's electoral victory as prime minister in 2003, "Israel" and Turkey once enjoyed good relations.

But tensions peaked in 2010 when nine Turkish activists died in clashes after Israeli commandos boarded a vessel as it tried to break the blockade of Gaza 2010.

Last March, Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited Turkey to meet with Erdogan for further rapprochement.

In September, "Israel" appointed Irit Lillian as its ambassador to Turkey. Lillian had been in charge of the Israeli Embassy in Ankara for the last two years.

Erdogan and his government have a well-known history of often using the Palestinian cause to gather votes and public attention.

On March 25, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu boldly stated that “Turkey's diplomatic thaw with Israel will help the Palestinians."

But the motives behind the normalization of diplomatic ties stem from plans to negotiate the transportation of gas to the EU.

In May of this year, Turkish Presidential Spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin said that gas from the Eastern Mediterranean could become an alternative to Russian supplies for the EU, adding that Ankara was ready to be part of this process.

"These negotiations [between Turkey and the Israeli occupation] are underway, as far as I know, the next meeting will be held in October," Kalin told reporters when asked the relevant question.

On August 15, it was reported that the two parties had restored full diplomatic ties.