The revival of Turkey-Israel diplomatic ties - Modern Diplomacy
Hadia Ibrar
10-13 minuten
The two countries, formerly close regional allies, Israel and Turkey, are reestablishing full diplomatic ties with each other after a four-year thaw in relations. Following more than a decade of animosity, the trips of both foreign ministers and Israeli President Isaac Herzog to Turkey in March helped to improve relations. After years of conflict, both sides will appoint ambassadors once more. The reestablishment of diplomatic ties between Ankara and Tel Aviv has been hailed by officials from both nations as a huge milestone. It was the result of lengthy discussions. When Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid visited Ankara in June, both nations’ foreign ministers reaffirmed their plans to reappoint their ambassadors. The nomination of ambassadors, according to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, was “one of the steps for the normalization of ties,” he told reporters in Ankara. According to him, Israel has taken a “such a positive move, and as a result of these efforts, and as Turkey, we also decided to nominate an ambassador to Israel, to Tel Aviv.” In addition to increasing regional stability, improving relations will help to enhance bonds between the two peoples and to expand economic, trade, and cultural linkages.
Following a call between Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid on August 17, the statement was made. According to separate readouts from the two sides, Erdogan said the necessary measures to designate the ambassador will be taken as soon as feasible, and Lapid said the ties’ development would result in successes in commerce and tourism.
History of Israel-Turkey Relations:
After a fatal confrontation in 2010 between Israeli commandos and Turkish activists on a passenger ship that attempted to evade Israel’s naval blockade of the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian coastal territory controlled by the Islamist militant group Hamas, Turkey, once Israel’s closest ally in the Muslim world and a significant trading partner, severed diplomatic ties with Israel. When Israeli naval commandos rappelled onto the deck of the ship, the Mavi Marmara, transporting aid to Gaza, they were confronted with violent resistance and killed nine protestors. A tenth activist later succumbed to his injuries. Israeli-Turkish relations have seen ups and downs recently, despite the restoration of some sort of diplomatic ties. In 2016, when Israel agreed to contribute around $20 million to a fund to compensate the relatives of those killed on the Mavi Marmara, the two nations resumed full diplomatic ties.