Written by: Kate Norman
Article source: www.bridgesforpeace.com

Israel’s new president, Isaac Herzog, spoke on the phone with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan recently, indicating potentially warming ties between the two nations.

Erdoğan is well-known for his vocal anti-Israel and anti-Semitic sentiments, including accusing the Jewish state of “terrorism” against the Palestinian people and calling Israelis “murderers.”

The tone was reportedly more subdued during last night’s 40-minute phone call, however, with Erdoğan congratulating Herzog on his recent inauguration. Herzog was sworn in last week as Israel’s 11th president, replacing former President Reuven Rivlin, whose seven-year term ended on July 7.

The new president’s office said the phone conversation focused on increasing good relations between Israel and Turkey, including increasing trade and cooperation in tourism, technology and energy.

“The presidents see great importance to the continuation of contacts and dialogue, despite all the disagreements in order to promote positive steps to resolve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict that will also contribute to the improvement of Israeli–Turkish relations,” President Herzog’s office said in a statement.

Erdoğan’s office issued a statement with similar sentiments, which included a safeguard from things getting too friendly: “Erdoğan told Herzog that the international community expects a complete, permanent and comprehensive two-state solution to the Palestinian–Israeli conflict per UN resolutions.”

In fact, just a few days before the phone call, Erdoğan hosted Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas in Istanbul to reiterate Turkey’s devotion to the Palestinian cause.

“Peace and stability in the region will not be possible as long as the Israeli occupation continues, Erdoğan stressed, saying Turkey did not and will not remain silent about Israel’s atrocities in Palestine,” Turkish Anadolu Agency reported on the meeting.

Nonetheless, Ankara and Jerusalem maintain open ties and cooperate on trade and tourism. There is currently no Turkish ambassador to Israel, however. When the US moved its embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv in 2018, Turkey recalled its ambassador to Israel and dismissed the Jewish state’s ambassador in Ankara.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid wrapped up a two-day visit to Brussels, Belgium, where he met with multiple foreign ministers and addressed the European Union Foreign Affairs Council on Monday.

In an attempt to warm ties with the historically anti-Israel EU, Lapid lauded Israel’s new broad coalition government. “The key message is that different people, with different opinions, can have a dialogue and work together without resorting to a zero-sum game.”

Lapid mentioned the threats the Jewish state faces, particularly Iran, “the number one exporter of terrorism in the world” and a “country that has never given up its ambition to acquire nuclear weapons and has never hidden what the target of this weapon is: us. Israel.”

Lapid mentioned his historic visit last month to the United Arab Emirates, which normalized ties with Israel in the landmark Abraham Accords last year, to inaugurate the Israeli embassy in the capital of Abu Dhabi. Lapid also met last week with his Jordanian counterpart to ink water and trade agreements. The night before addressing the council, Lapid met with the Egyptian foreign minister.

“Something good is happening between us and the moderates in the Arab world,” Lapid pointed out. “I want to expand the circle of peace to more countries.”

The foreign minister said the circle should “eventually include Palestinians.”

“It is no secret that I support a two-state solution,” Lapid said. “Unfortunately, there is no current plan for this.”

To achieve a Palestinian state, Lapid said, “it must be a peace-loving democracy. We [Israel] cannot take part in the building of another threat to our lives.”

The new government, with its broad variety of political and ideological leanings, seems to be broadening the Jewish state’s horizons—or at least trying.

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Date published: 23/07/2021
Feature image: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Isaac Herzog. Artwork adapted from Russian Presidential/commons.wikimedia.org and commons.wikimedia.org

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