Relationship with Israel will result in significant developments, says Turkey’s defence minister

Picture source - AA

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar in a meeting with his Israeli counterpart on Thursday stated that improvement of the relationship between the two states can lead to significant regional developments.

As per a Reuters report, Hulusi Akar stated “The improvement of our relations and cooperation with Israel, especially in areas such as defence, security, and energy, will lead to important developments regarding regional peace and stability.”

While talking in a joint press conference in Ankara Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz stated that following his meeting with his Turkish counterpart, he directed his staff to begin the process of restarting working relations with Turkey.

Akar and Gantz met individually and with envoys to discuss bilateral cooperation and security issues.

Gantz, who is running for premier in Israel’s election next week, was also scheduled to meet Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.

Relations between Israel and Turkey have been strained since 2011 when Ankara exiled Israel’s ambassador in response to an Israeli raid on the aid ship Mavi Marmara in Gaza in 2010, which killed ten Turkish citizens.

In 2016 relations got back to normal but then again after two years Turkey recalled its diplomatic staff from Israel and expelled Israeli envoys after Israeli forces brutally murdered many Palestinians participating in the Gaza Strip’s “March of Return” protests.