Lapid visits Turkey, mending strained relationship amid Israeli fears

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
23 Jun 2022 19:16

Normalization in the region continues to expand; Turkey looks to consolidate its relationship with "Israel" permanently.

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid meets with his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, in Ankara on June 23, 2022. (GPO)

As Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid makes his way to Turkey, the two entities have reportedly begun working on restoring ambassador-level diplomatic representation, according to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Thursday, as the two attempt to end more than a decade of a strained relationship.

In a joint news conference with Lapid, the Turkish Foreign Minister said that Turkey and "Israel" are in close contact regarding "threats" to Israeli settlers in Turkey. Ankara promised that it would not allow any attacks on the latter on Turkish land.

In 2018, the two expelled ambassadors, and "Israel" lost Turkish support over its colonial project; however, that may be about to change.

Energy has become a main issue for potential cooperation in mending relations - the United States has recently set some of its differences aside to cooperate with Venezuela and Saudi Arabia to ameliorate the energy crisis.

Furthermore, the Turkish Foreign Minister was speaking alongside Lapid after months of talks and indications of warming ties - however, this came along with claims by Israelis that they would come under attack by Iranian agents in Turkey.

"Israel" has been warning its settlers against traveling to Turkey, warning of assassination or abduction plots launched by Iran. Tehran has recently promised to avenge the assassination of Colonel Hassan Sayyad Khodaei, a slain IRGC head, which "Israel" is responsible for.

Cavusoglu visited "Israel" last month to promote economic cooperation in the first such visit by a senior Turkish official in 15 years.