In phone call with Herzog, Erdogan stresses energy cooperation

ANKARA (AA) – In a phone call with his Israeli counterpart, the Turkish president on Friday stressed the mutual benefits of energy cooperation between the two countries.

Turkiye’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Isaac Herzog discussed bilateral relations and regional issues, according to a statement from Turkiye’s Communications Directorate.

Erdogan voiced hope that the recent momentum in bilateral relations gained with Herzog’s two-day state visit last month to Turkiye can be maintained, and touted the benefits of energy cooperation.

The US withdrawal of support for the EastMed pipeline this January has led to speculation that Turkiye and Israel might reach an energy deal. Turkiye has stressed that no energy pipeline that bypasses it has any chance of success.

Erdogan also stressed that Palestinians must be allowed to enter Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque and other sites in Israel during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which starts this weekend.

Erdogan reiterated that he expects Israeli authorities to keep Al-Aqsa open for worship 24 hours a day during the last 10 days of Ramadan and to close it to non-Muslim visitors.

Erdogan also said that he hopes Herzog and all Jews have a peaceful Passover, a Jewish holiday which begins in mid-April.

Herzog also gave Erdogan best wishes for Ramadan.

Condemning the terrorist attacks Israel has seen in recent days, Erdogan offered condolences to the people who lost their lives and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

On Tuesday, five people were killed in a shooting attack in the city of Bnei Brak, the third deadly assault in recent weeks. Four Israelis were killed in a knife assault in the city of Beersheba on March 22, and two policemen were killed when two attackers opened fire in the city of Hadera on Sunday.