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FM Lapid meets with Turkish FM Çavuşoğlu in Jerusalem

Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs

25.05.2022

FM Lapid: Today, we are initiating a new framework for improving our relations that not only we, but our children, will benefit from for years to come.

(Communicated by the MFA Spokesperson)

Minister of Foreign Affairs Yair Lapid met today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu. Following are excerpts from FM Lapid's statement:

"My friend, Mr Foreign Minister, Israel and Turkey are two regional powers, and more than that: two nations with a long, ancient, and shared history. According to the Tanakh, it was in the southeastern Turkish city of Harran where God was first revealed to Abraham.

"Mr. Minister, we won't pretend that our relationship has not seen its ups and downs. But we remember that Turkey was the first Muslim nation to recognize Israel, back in 1949. And we have always known how to return to dialogue and cooperation. Nations with long histories always know how to close one chapter and open a new one. That is what we are doing here today. Following the Abraham Accords, a new partnership of strength has been created in the Middle East against terror, against attempts to undermine stability. In recent months, 19 Israelis have been killed in terrorist attacks. In the last such attack, three Israelis were slaughtered on the street with axes. We are fighting terror with determination, and we expect our friends to cooperate with us in this battle.

"In this context, I want to take this opportunity to thank President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken for their decision to keep the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps on the list of terrorist organizations subjected to sanctions. In recent months, Prime Minister Bennett, Defense Minister Gantz, and I have worked closely with the Americans on this matter, and the American decision is further proof of the unbreakable alliance between us and the United States, an alliance based on deeply held shared values and core strategic interests.

"Following this visit - the first by a Turkish Foreign Minister to Israel in 15 years - the two of us are expecting to see progress not only in our diplomatic and security relations, but in our economic ties as well.

"In our conversation today, Mr. Minister, we agreed to relaunch our Joint Economic Commission, and to begin working on a new civil aviation agreement between our countries. Beyond diplomacy, Mr. Minister, Israelis simply love Turkey. Every day, tens of flights depart Israel for Turkey with thousands of Israelis who love your culture and music, beautiful beaches, and colorful bazaars. I commend you on your visit, Mr. Minister, and for the fruitful, honest, and productive conversations we had this morning. Today, we are initiating a new framework for improving our relations that not only we, but our children, will benefit from for years to come."