ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey and Israel agreed Wednesday to rebuild their relationship despite their differences, as Israel’s President Isaac Herzog became the first Israeli leader to visit Turkey in 14 years.
Appearing before cameras following talks with Herzog, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described Israeli president’s visit as “historic” and “a turning point” in Turkish-Israeli relations. He said Turkey was ready to cooperate with Israel in the energy sector, adding that the Turkish foreign and energy ministers would soon visit Israel for more talks on increased cooperation.
“Our common goal is to revitalize political dialogue between our countries based on common interests and respect for mutual sensitivities,” Erdogan said.
Herzog said his visit constitutes a “very important moment” in relations, allowing the countries to “build bridges essential to us all.”
Both leaders conceded however, that differences remain — not least on the issue of the Palestinians.
“We expressed the importance we attach to reducing tensions in the region and preserving the vision of a two-state solution,” Erdogan said. “I underlined the importance we attach to the historical status of Jerusalem and the preservation of the religious identity and sanctity of Masjid Aqsa,” the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s historic Old City.
Israel captured east Jerusalem with its Jewish, Christian and Muslim holy sites in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed it in a move unrecognized by most of the international community. The Palestinians seek east Jerusalem as capital of a future state along with the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The Israelis and Palestinians have not held substantive peace negotiations to reach a two-state solution to the conflict in over a decade.
Herzog said: “We must agree in advance that we will not agree on everything, that is the nature of relations with a past as rich as ours.”
“But the disagreements we will aspire to resolve with mutual respect and openness, through the proper mechanisms and systems, with a view to a shared future,” he said.
