Turkey: In a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid on Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sought his assistance in connection with the capture of civilians by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas for the first time in more than ten years.
The two leaders met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, a month after the nations announced the resumption of diplomatic ties after years of tension.
According to a statement from the prime minister's office, Lapid "raised the issue of missing and captive Israelis and the importance of bringing them home."
With Iran, Israel's longtime adversary, the Israeli leader expressed concern and "thanked President Erdogan for the intelligence cooperation," according to his office.
Turkey was the first country to recognize Israel in 1949, where Muslims had a majority. But under Erdogan, who shunned his country's secularism since he became its paramount leader in 2003, relations have deteriorated. He last had a meeting with an Israeli prime minister in 2008.
Ten civilians were killed in 2010 after an Israeli raid on the Turkish Mavi Marmara ship, which was part of a flotilla attempting to break a blockade by bringing aid to the Gaza Strip, led to a sharp deterioration in relations.
Erdogan continues to have links with Hamas, the Islamic organization in charge of the heavily populated Gaza Strip. Two Israeli citizens are reportedly being held captive by the group.
Erdogan in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly reiterated the need for the creation of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
However, he also added that Turkey was "determined to continue to develop our relationship with Israel for the future, not only of the peace and stability of the region, but also of Israel, the Palestinian people and ours."
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