Israel, Türkiye moving to next phase of relations: Israeli chargé d’affaires

ANKARA (AA) – Israel and Türkiye are moving to the next phase of relations, after a well-managed normalization process, said the Israeli chargé d’affaires in Ankara.

“I believe very much in this normalization process because I think it is a gate that would enable the relations between the two countries really to soar to new heights,” Irit Lillian said.

With the recent landmark announcement that full diplomatic ties would be restored by dispatching ambassadors for the first time in years, Türkiye and Israel opened the doors to boosting cooperation in a range of areas, from technology to tourism and defense industries to the economy.

“There is a very large spectrum of cooperation in different fields — be it agriculture, water, desertification — that are in front of us,” said Lillian.

While the trade volume between Türkiye and Israel is around $8 billion, she expressed hope that the figure might reach $10 billion easily as a result of the normalization process.

Touching on tourism, Lillian said more Israeli airlines are coming back to Türkiye with the new aviation deal signed in July, adding that Israeli tourists have also returned to Turkey.

First ministerial visit by Turkish side

With the announcement on the restoration of diplomatic relations the first ministerial visit by the Turkish side to Israel is likely.

“As far as we know, a very senior minister from Türkiye is supposed to lead a delegation to Jerusalem,” she said, adding, “this minister is going to be welcomed by the minister of economy.”

‘Palestinian question dear to hearts of Turkish administration’

Lillian also explicitly said that the normalization and restoration of ties doesn’t “depend on a third party,” referring possibly to Palestine.

She added: “Nevertheless, I don’t think there should be a third party in this marriage.”

“I tend to believe that the process that we have created during the past year is a process that contains a different deconfliction mechanism,” she said. “And if we use this deconfliction mechanism wisely, we will be able to contain future crises.”

Course of relations and elections

With Israel facing its fifth general elections in three years on Nov. 1, Lillian hopes that it will not adversely affect the newly restored full diplomatic ties between Türkiye and Israel.

Noting that Türkiye will also hold elections in June next year, she said bilateral relations should not depend on the decisions of politicians.

“It should not be binded by political decisions of the two peoples. It should be a strong foundation that would enhance peace and stability in our region, no matter who is going to head one of our countries,” she said.

Asked if any joint collaboration on energy is on the agenda of Türkiye and Israel, Lillian said that “Israel is very much committed to the Eastern Mediterranean pipeline (EastMed), which is a project that we have been planning for many years together with Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Egypt and the US as partners.”

Earlier this year, however, the US announced its decision to withdraw its support from the project, which seeks to transport Israeli natural gas to the European market via the Mediterranean Sea and Greece.