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Israel and Turkey have agreed to restore full diplomatic ties after an absence of four years following a phone call between Prime Minister Yair Lapid and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The renewal has been hailed by Prime Minister Lapid as an “important asset for regional stability and a very important economic asset for the citizens of Israel”. He also pledged to “continue to act and strengthen Israel’s international standing in the world”.
The two countries have committed to growth in “economic, trade, cultural ties and strengthening regional stability”.
In a joint statement, Israel and Turkey welcomed the restoration of diplomatic relations as “a continuation of the positive direction in the development of relations over the past year, since President [Isaac] Herzog’s diplomatic visit to Ankara, and the reciprocal visits of the foreign ministers to Jerusalem and Ankara”.
Israel’s Tourism Minister Yoel Razbozov spoke of Israel looking forward “to hosting more Turkish tourists, who will strengthen the tourism industry and the connection between the countries”.
The significant announcement follows high-profile cooperation between the two countries in successfully disrupting Iranian agents kidnapping and killing Israelis in Istanbul in July.
In the wake of violent protest on the Israeli-Gaza border in May 2018, Turkey recalled its ambassador to Israel and requested for Israel’s to leave Turkey after President Erdogan accused Israel of “state terrorism” and “genocide”. The relationship quickly soured, with Israel accusing Turkey of supporting Hamas and providing a safe haven for terrorists. However, ties have been slowly improving since May 2020 and this move signifies a major step in reviving a closer relationship.
The Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu said this change does not mean Turkey is abandoning the Palestinians, but instead “it is important for our messages to be conveyed directly through the ambassador (on the Palestinian issue)”.
