Turkish Foreign Minister Says Palestine Welcomes Normalization Of Ankara-Tel Aviv Relations, Immediately Appoints Ambassador To Israel

JAKARTA - Foreign Minister Mevlüt avuşoğlu said the normalization of Ankara-Tel Aviv relations did not change Turkey's support for Palestine, with diplomatic representatives being appointed immediately.

Speaking in a televised interview, he said a candidate for ambassador to Israel would soon be presented to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

He emphasized that normalizing relations with Israel does not mean Turkey will make concessions on the Palestinian issue.

The Palestinian Authority also welcomes the normalization of relations between Ankara and Tel Aviv, he added.

"Dialogue must continue even if you disagree on everything. Through this dialogue, we will better defend the Palestinian cause," he said, adding that normalizing relations is beneficial for the region.

Turkey and Israel are taking steps to normalize relations, including a decision last week to restore full diplomatic relations, reappointing the ambassador and consul general after a four-year gap.

The two countries expelled each other's ambassadors in 2018 over the killing of 60 Palestinians by Israeli forces, during protests at the Gaza border against the opening of the US Embassy in Jerusalem.

"Steps that we will take to normalize relations include the reappointment of the ambassador. At the press conference that we held with (Israeli Prime Minister Yair) Lapid in this hall, we made a statement that we are starting the work of appointing an ambassador," he said. Foreign Minister avuşoğlu last week.

It is known, President Erdoan will receive Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's visit at Ankara's presidential compound on Tuesday.

The Palestinian leader's visit is widely seen as an attempt by Turkey to show that it supports an old ally while repairing ties with old rivals.