Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu travelled to Jerusalem on Wednesday, in a visit that his Israeli counterpart Yair Lapid said marks a “new chapter” in historically strained ties. In fact, it marked the first visit by a top Turkish official to Israel in 15 years.
However, immediately after arriving in Jerusalem, Çavuşoğlu travelled to Ramallah in the West Bank and met with Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas and Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki, wherein he reiterated Turkey’s “strong support for the Palestinian cause.” In this regard, he signed ten agreements with Palestine in trade and agriculture. Çavuşoğlu also indicated that Turkey planned on opening an industrial zone in Jenin.
“Our coordination with the Palestinian side is a separate matter than our relationship with [Israel]. Our policy towards the Palestinians will not change,” he stressed.
Today, I met with Turkish Foreign Minister @MevlutCavusoglu. We agreed to renew talks in order to enable Israeli airlines to fly to Turkey, and to renew the activity of our Joint Economic Commission. pic.twitter.com/lCCN5aC8UA
— יאיר לפיד - Yair Lapid🟠 (@yairlapid) May 25, 2022
Despite Turkey’s vocal support for Palestine, however, Lapid emphasised that Çavuşoğlu’s visit signals a “return to dialogue and cooperation.” During a joint press conference, Lapid underscored that despite their “ups and downs,” Israel has always celebrated Turkey as the first Muslim nation to recognise Israel in 1949. In this regard, he remarked, “Nations with long histories always know how to close one chapter and open a new one. That is what we are doing here today.”
Furthermore, while Lapid noted that the Abraham Accords of 2020, in which Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and Sudan recognised Israel, was a landmark achievement, normalising Turkey-Israel ties would create a “new partnership of strength” that would bolster the Middle East’s stability.
Today’s visit by Turkish Foreign Minister @MevlutCavusoglu is another important milestone in advancing the relations between our two countries; aviation and economic issues will be key in our upcoming bilateral discussions. pic.twitter.com/UMyE2k14ka
— Alon Ushpiz (@AlonUshpiz) May 25, 2022
“Following this visit, […] the two of us are expecting to see progress not only in our diplomatic and security relations but in our economic ties as well,” the Israeli FM added. In this respect, Lapid announced that both countries would relaunch the Joint Economic Commission and establish a new civil aviation agreement.
A statement released by Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said that Çavuşoğlu’s meeting with Lapid was “constructive” and “all aspects of our relations” were discussed. Çavuşoğlu also brought up the issue of the Palestine conflict and emphasised that it could “only be resolved through two states to be established in the framework of UN parameters”.
In a constructive meeting discussed all aspects of our relations w/FM @yairlapid of #Israel.
— Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu (@MevlutCavusoglu) May 25, 2022
Emphasized that Palestinian issue can only be resolved through two states to be established in the framework of @UN parameters & conveyed our sensitivities on Al Quds & al-Aqsa Mosque. pic.twitter.com/Fw5bgZsjm0
Israeli news channel i24 News reported that during his visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, Çavuşoğlu said that “despite our differences, the continuation of a sustainable dialogue will be beneficial for peace in the region.”
Moreover, the Turkish FM said that Turkey is “determined to increase trade and economic activity” in the fields of commercial aviation, clean energy, emerging technology, and sustainable agriculture. Çavuşoğlu also said that Turkey hopes to “receive more tourists” from Israel.
“Israelis love Turkey,” he said. “I heard it from every Israeli since arriving.”
Turkiye and Israel are on the same page regarding normalization and revitalization of ties, the Turkish foreign minister said https://t.co/oSLgzlAUlN pic.twitter.com/KNiQTkSfny
— ANADOLU AGENCY (@anadoluagency) May 25, 2022
Relations between Israel and Turkey have remained tense since the Mavi Marmara incident of 2010, when Israeli commandos forcibly boarded a Turkish flotilla on its way to the Gaza Strip and killed ten Turkish activists. Israel’s settlement policy in the West Bank and Turkey’s support for Hamas have also acted as major roadblocks to re-establishing normal relations.
Furthermore, ties completely broke down in 2018 after Turkey recalled its ambassador to Israel over ex-United States (US) President Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Israel reciprocated by recalling its ambassador. Both sides have not reappointed their ambassadors so far.
#Filistin Ziyaretimiz
— Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu (@MevlutCavusoglu) May 24, 2022
Visit to #Palestine 🇹🇷🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/zLllppGF5J
However, in recent times, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has expressed his interest in improving ties with Israel and has taken several steps in this regard. In 2020, the Turkish president said that his country would like to have better relations with Israel and in the following year he held a phone call with Herzog to realise this goal.
Furthermore, in November 2021, Turkey released an Israeli couple who were arrested on espionage charges on the intervention of Erdoğan. In March this year, Israeli President Isaac Herzog met with Erdoğan in Ankara, the first time an Israeli head of state has visited Turkey in over 14 years, and agreed to normalise ties.