From the Liveblog of
Thursday, June 15, 2023
Netanyahu said trying to arrange meeting with Erdogan
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to organize a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Hebrew media reports.
The reports, citing a senior Israeli official, come amid a warming of ties between Israel and Turkey, but after years of animosity between the two leaders.
The reports did not say where the meeting would take place.
Channel 12 says the move comes with Netanyahu apparently being denied a White House invitation from US President Joe Biden. A long-hoped for invitation to the UAE has also failed to emerge.
Despite a recent improvement, ties between Netanyahu and Erdogan have long been tense.
Israel was a long-time regional ally of Turkey before Erdogan came to power but deteriorating ties imploded after a 2010 Israeli commando raid on the Gaza-bound Mavi Marmara ship, part of a blockade-busting flotilla, that left dead 10 Turkish activists dead who attacked IDF soldiers aboard the ship.
Despite an official apology by Netanyahu, Erdogan went on to accuse the Jewish state of “keeping Hitler’s spirit alive” during Operation Defensive Shield in Gaza in July 2014.
Despite a moderate subsequent improvement in relations, both countries withdrew their ambassadors after Erdogan leveled charges of “state terrorism” and “genocide” at Israel when dozens of Palestinians were killed in Gaza rioting on May 14, 2018, the day former US president Donald Trump controversially moved the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
The Times of Israel Community.