Jerusalem should consider improving ties with Turkey but must do so cautiously, two former senior Israeli national security officials told Israel Hayom in separate talks on Wednesday.
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One of the former officials said, "Israel should gauge Erdogan's seriousness, given his antisemitic and inconsistent background. Erdogan supports the Muslim Brotherhood and thus one should wonder whether his apparent desire to mend relations with Israel stems from current needs and for show only. Israel's approach should be 'trust but verify.'" According to the official, "given Turkey's weakness, there is definitely an opportunity but Israel must show strength in the talks, especially on the ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas."
According to the other official, the rapprochement should not come at the expense of Greece and Cyprus, with whom Israel has built geopolitical cooperation in the last decade.
Israel and Turkey have expelled ambassadors and consuls in 2018 and relations have remained tense, but Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has since worked to mend strained ties with several regional countries in a charm offensive launched in 2020.
Turkey "is much more eager than we are and Israel will play hard to get." Normalizing ties with Ankara is in Jerusalem's interest, especially because of its rivalry with Iran and influence in Syria, the official said, urging Israeli lawmakers to conduct matters "with balance."
The official also said that last week's report that Turkish intelligence foiled an Iranian plot to assassinate Israeli businessman Yair Geller was viewed by Israel as a favorable signal on Turkey's part and reflected their common interest in standing up to the Iranian threat.
And yet, the official noted that some statements by Turkey continue to be problematic, "such as the ones pertaining to Gaza and the Temple Mount."
Meanwhile, another Israeli official has confirmed that Turkey has stepped up efforts against anti-Israel terrorism, but refrained from confirming Tuesday's Turkish media report that said Hamas members were told to leave the country.
"No such condition was made, but the progress vis-à-vis the Turks is very measured and cautious," the official said.
The news comes against the backdrop of an announcement by the Turkish Foreign Ministry on Tuesday, which said that a team of senior officials will travel to Israel ahead of President Isaac Herzog's planned trip to Ankara.
Erdogan's chief foreign policy adviser Ibrahim Kalin and Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Onal will lead a delegation on Feb. 16-17, the ministry said, adding the members would also meet Palestinian officials, including President Mahmoud Abbas.
Israel said Kalin and Onal would visit to coordinate Herzog's planned visit and hold talks with officials following discussions in Turkey in December.
Herzog will visit Turkey from March 9-10, Turkish media said on Tuesday.
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