NEW YORK (JTA) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a group of Jewish leaders that he planned to visit Israel, the clearest sign so far that he is intent on resetting a long-troubled relationship.
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Erdogan also told a room full of leaders of American Jewish organizations that antisemitism is a “crime against humanity,” a meeting participant told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. The meeting Monday afternoon, convened under the auspices of the Turkish embassy and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, took place in New York City, where the United Nations General Assembly has gathered global diplomats this week.
Erdogan did not say when he would visit.
Turkey and Israel last month announced that they planned to restore full diplomatic ties, which have been ruptured since 2010, when Israel carried out a deadly raid on a Turkish vessel attempting to breach an Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited Turkey in March.
Erdogan is seeking to tighten ties with the West as Russia drags on its war against Ukraine. He also wants to make sure Turkey is involved in energy exploration development in the eastern Mediterranean, which until now has been led by Israel and Greece.
Israel is seeking to build on the 2020 Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and four Arab countries. Israel hopes to add other Arab and Muslim-majority countries to the accords, a goal that enhanced relations with Turkey would facilitate.
In addition, as one of the countries to maintain direct ties with Hamas, the militant group controlling the Gaza Strip, Turkey has proven a valued intermediary for Israel in its quest to ease tensions along its Gaza border.
On Sunday, the Turkish government’s official Twitter account posted on Twitter a video of Erdogan strolling through Central Park which included a cheerful encounter with a rabbi, Rachel Goldenberg, of Queens.
He has been on a charm offensive lately, but time will tell how real it is. His term ends in 2023 and there is a big question mark hanging over him, as he has suffered serious declines in popularity in recent years, due to great economic deterioration in Turkey, crises in foreign relations, as well as other matters.
I’m sure Malcolm hoenlein are dear leader approves while $500,000 overseeing a group overseeing others
Ezra friedlander is there also so even turks know of this askan for hire
ezra friedlander made it there.
Wowee aren’t we lucky ?
Erdogan, an authoritarian populist has learned the hard way, over the years, after burning bridges with Russia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Syria, that being diplomatic gets you much further than bombastic, harsh & combative attitude , it only ingratiates you with your base (wow he’s so strong) but hurts your standing internationally and in the long run it comes back to bite you.
Turky is now in a rough spot, its economy is in shambles and with few friends, it is no surprise that he is now, after many years of being hostile, looking to improve its relationship with its neighbors,
This MESHUGANAH is EXTREMELY UNTRUSTWORTHY, Israeli leaders would be well advised to count their fingers after shaking this guy’s hand !!!
The Turkish economy is in a nearly catastrophic state. He needs Jews again.
erdogan can’t humiliate israel without first improving relations, so he’ll have something to break off, to impress his islamist constituency.
his meeting with ali khamenei and vladimir putin in tehran only a few weeks ago is a much more accurate indication of who his friends are.
When will the true person reappear