Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said, "As Turkey, we have decided to appoint ambassadors to Israel. After that, the process of determining the names begins." In the statement made by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, it was announced that Israel and Turkey decided to re-establish diplomatic relations. It was stated that ambassadors will return to Tel Aviv and Ankara in the normalisation process between the two countries.

In a telephone conversation between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Lapid, it was stated that Israel and Turkey decided to send back their ambassadors. "The resumption of relations with Turkey is important for regional stability. We will continue to work to strengthen Israel's position in the world."

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavuşoğlu also said in a statement: "After the new government took office, a dialogue process started in Israel. As a result, appointing ambassadors was among the steps we would take to normalise relations. We had made a statement that we had started work on the appointment of ambassadors. A positive step came from Israel. As Turkey, we have decided to appoint ambassadors to Israel. All the best. After that, the process of determining the names begins." Çavuşoğlu said, "We will continue to defend the rights of Palestine" in response to the appointment of an ambassador to Tel Aviv.

'MUTUAL AMBASSADOR APPOINTMENT' STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT OF ISRAEL

"This is an important development that will promote greater economic relations, mutual tourism and friendship between the Israeli and Turkish peoples," said Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

"I commend the renewal of full diplomatic relations with Turkey - an important development that we pioneered last year, which will promote greater economic relations, mutual tourism and friendship between the Israeli and Turkish peoples," Herzog said in a social media message, tagging President Tayyip Erdoğan. 

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said: "Israel and Turkey have decided to restore full diplomatic ties between our nations, including returning ambassadors. This will contribute not only to deepening our bilateral relations but also to strengthening regional stability."

WHAT HAS HAPPENED?

Since 31 May 2010, when the Mavi Marmara ship was attacked by Israel and 10 Turkish citizens were killed, Turkey-Israel relations had been on a volatile course. After the attack, Turkey recalled its ambassador to Tel Aviv. In 2016, Israel agreed to pay compensation for the normalisation of relations and the ambassadors returned mutually. In 2018, the ambassador was recalled again after Israel's excessive violence against Palestinian demonstrators. Israeli President Herzog's visit to Turkey in March 2022 was considered as a new page in relations with Israel.

In late 2018, former US President Donald Trump attempted to establish an alliance called MESA (Middle East Strategic Alliance), also known as "Arab NATO" or "Sunni NATO", with the participation of 6 Gulf countries, Egypt and Jordan, in order to break the influence of Iran, a regional actor that is increasing its influence.

In 2019, the Trump Administration announced a plan called the "Deal of the Century", claiming to achieve Israeli-Palestinian peace. According to this plan, a "state" called "New Palestine" would be established in the occupied West Bank, excluding Jewish settlements, and the Gaza Strip. Jerusalem would be recognised as the capital of both countries (Israel and Palestine) but would remain in Israeli hands. This plan was described by many as the "Betrayal of the Century".

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed the "Abraham Accords", which made the secret negotiations with Israel fully public, and later many Arab states joined the bandwagon. (EVRENSEL DAILY)