Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office is trying to coordinate a visit and meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Channel 12 News reported on Thursday.
According to the report, Netanyahu’s office believes that Erdogan will want to hold this meeting with the Prime Minister, in light of the attempt to create renewed relations with Israel since President Isaac Herzog paved the way for their renewal.
Foreign Minister Eli Cohen already met with the Turkish President in February and Netanyahu spoke with him two weeks ago and congratulated him on his victory in the elections.
A diplomatic official in Israel confirmed the details, adding that the contacts are in advanced stages. At the same time, other diplomatic sources believe that Erdogan will hold the meeting only if he is convinced that Netanyahu will bring with him news on economic-related issues.
Israel and Turkey formally announced last year that they would normalize relations by returning the ambassadors and consuls, after years of tensions.
In December, Israel’s Ambassador to Turkey, Irit Lillian, presented her credentials to Erdogan. In March, the new Turkish Ambassador to Israel, Şakir Özkan Torunlar, presented his credentials to President Herzog.
