Israeli President Isaac Herzog arrived in Turkey on Wednesday, becoming the first leader from Israel to visit in 14 years as the two countries move to turn a new page in their troubled relationship.
"Grateful to President @RTErdogan for this warm welcome at the Presidential Complex. I am a firm believer that all peoples, faiths, and states in our region can and should live in peace, and that partnerships will bring blessings for us all," Herzog said on Twitter, along with the two flags.
Herzog held talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara before traveling to Istanbul for meetings with members of Turkey's Jewish community. Turkey and Israel once were close allies, but the relationship frayed under Erdogan, who is an outspoken critic of Israel's policies toward the Palestinians. Israel also has been angered by Erdogan's embrace of Hamas, the terrorist group that controls the Gaza Strip.
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The countries withdrew their respective ambassadors in 2010 after Israeli forces stormed a Gaza-bound flotilla. The incident resulted in the deaths of nine Turkish activists after they attacked Israeli soldiers.
Relations broke down again in 2018 when Turkey, angered by the US moving its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, once more recalled its ambassador, prompting Israel to respond in kind. The two countries have not reappointed their ambassadors.
During a joint press appearance, Erdogan said he was honored to welcome his Israeli counterpart in his palace, and said, "I believe this visit will be a turning point in relations between Israel and Turkey." Erdogan added that "bolstering ties with Israel is of great value to our country."
He added that the two talked about regional issues and that the "near term will offer opportunities for regional and bilateral cooperation," including on energy, referring to the possibility of Israel exporting its natural gas through other countries in the region.
Herzog responded that he was hopeful that it is "unfortunate that our relations have experienced a drought in recent years" but that added that this could change and be evaluated through "actions that reflect a spirit of mutual respect that would help us deal with regional and global challenges that we share."
Herzog added that "although the past cannot go away on its own, the two nations have decided to embark on a new path of trust and mutual respect that will include in-depth dialogue on all aspects, choosing to look forward together."
The steps toward a rapprochement with Israel come as Turkey, beset by economic troubles, has been trying to end its international isolation by normalizing its ties with several countries in the Mideast region, including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.
"We will not agree on everything, and the relationship between Israel and Turkey has certainly known ups and downs and not-so-simple moments in recent years," Herzog said before his departure. "But we shall try to restart our relations and build them in a measured and cautious manner, and with mutual respect between our states."
Grateful to President @RTErdogan for this warm welcome at the Presidential Complex. I am a firm believer that all peoples, faiths, and states in our region can and should live in peace, and that partnerships will bring blessings and prosperity for us all. 🇮🇱🇹🇷 pic.twitter.com/BEYfkNcYby
— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) March 9, 2022
In Istanbul, a group of about 150 people, mostly members of pro-Islamist groups, protested Herzog's visit, chanting anti-Israeli slogans and holding up banners calling the Israeli president a "killer."
The protesters included members of the Turkish Islamic relief group IHH, which organized the Gaza-bound flotilla that broke the Israeli blockade in 2010. In a step toward reconciliation, Erdogan called Herzog by phone after the Israeli head of state took office last year. The two have held several telephone conversations since then. Erdogan has also spoken to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett following the release of an Israeli couple who were arrested in Istanbul on suspicion of spying.
During a visit to Cyprus last week, Herzog offered reassurance that Israel's warming relation with Turkey would not come at the expense of ties with Nicosia. Herzog made similar remarks in Greece last month, insisting Israel would continue to expand its cooperation with Greece and Cyprus, which both have tense relations with Turkey.
Israel's ties with Greece and Cyprus blossomed following the discovery of sizeable natural gas deposits in eastern Mediterranean waters and the countries look for ways to build on energy-based cooperation. Turkey has said there would be no change to Ankara's position toward the Palestinians despite the normalization efforts with Israel.
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