First meeting between the Turkish president and an Israeli prime minister in almost 15 years
After the resumption of full diplomatic relations between their countries, Israeli Prime Minister Jair Lapid and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met in New York. It was a “productive meeting” and the first meeting between the Turkish president and an Israeli prime minister in nearly 15 years, Lapid tweeted Wednesday about yesterday’s meeting.
“The relations between Israel and Turkey are fundamental for regional stability and bring tangible benefits to both countries,” wrote Lapid after the meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. “We talked about how we can advance relations between the two countries after years of crisis.” Furthermore, the discussion covered the fight against terrorism in Israel and in general, as well as closer cooperation between the two countries in the field of economics and energy.
Last month Israel and Turkey agreed to reinstate ambassadors and consuls general. Israel this week appointed Irit Lillian as its new ambassador to Turkey.
The once close allies withdrew in 2010 after ten Turkish citizens were killed when the Israeli navy stormed a solidarity ship in Gaza. In 2016 there was a first rapprochement. However, since the Gaza crisis in 2018, which intensified around the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem, the two countries have had no ambassadors to each other’s countries. This year there has been a gradual rapprochement.
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