The normalisation of relations between Turkey and Israel, according to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, will have a “good impact” on a “peaceful” resolution to the Palestinian question.

Cavusoglu said the two countries decided to “re-energize” cooperation in various sectors after meetings with his Israeli colleague, including resuming civil aviation talks.

Israel and Turkey are aiming to enhance their commercial ties.
Cavusoglu is in Israel and the Palestinian Territories on the second day of a two-day visit, the first by a senior Turkish official in 15 years.

“The goal is to form and expand economic and civil cooperation between our countries,” Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said alongside Cavusoglu in a statement released in Jerusalem, “and to leverage our two countries’ comparative advantages regionally and globally, even during the pandemic, and even in times of political tension.”

Officials will begin working on a new civil aviation deal, according to Lapid and Cavusoglu.

Turkey and Israel have been striving to improve their poor relations, with energy emerging as a crucial area for possible cooperation. In 2018, the two countries exchanged barbs over the Israeli-Palestinian issue, with both countries expelling diplomats.

“Normalization of our ties, we feel, will also contribute to a peaceful conclusion of the issue. Turkey is willing to assume responsibility for continuing negotiation efforts “Cavusoglu remarked.

Later on Wednesday, Cavusoglu will pay a visit to Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest site and the site of periodic conflicts between Palestinians and Israeli police during Ramadan. He claimed that he had spoken with Lapid about the matter.