Turkey’s Erdoğan ‘strongly condemns’ terror attacks in Israel

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Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan “strongly condemned” the latest terror attacks on Israeli civilians in a call with President Isaac Herzog on Friday.

Erdoğan also sent his condolences to the grieving Israeli families.

The Turkish president’s condemnation comes as he increases attempts to resuscitate Turkey’s diplomatic ties with Israel, a process that began shortly following the swearing-in of Herzog as president in July and of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s government a month earlier.

Herzog and his Turkish counterpart also spoke about the upcoming holiday period and agreed that peace and stability must be maintained in the region. The Israeli security establishment has been preparing for an escalation of violence during the month of Ramadan since Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad called for increased terror attacks on Israel.

Three different terror attacks in Beersheba, Hadera and Bnei Brak respectively in the last two weeks have taken the lives of nine Israelis and two Ukrainian foreign workers.

Despite his condemnation, Erdoğan also noted during his phone call with Herzog that Israel should not block West Bank Palestinians who wish to enter Israel for Ramadan from doing so. He welcomed steps taken by Israeli officials to allow Muslims to pray at Temple Mount.

Synergy in the field of energy was mutually beneficial for the two countries, Erdogan also said, adding that he hopes the momentum built in recent talks would continue. energy has emerged as a potential area of cooperation in talks to mend Turkey and Israel’s long-strained ties.

Source: https://www.jpost.com/middle-east