Israel Plans for Netanyahu’s Visit to Türkiye

Benjamin Netanyahu in a cabinet meeting on June 11. (AP)
Benjamin Netanyahu in a cabinet meeting on June 11. (AP)
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Israel Plans for Netanyahu’s Visit to Türkiye

Benjamin Netanyahu in a cabinet meeting on June 11. (AP)
Benjamin Netanyahu in a cabinet meeting on June 11. (AP)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamín Netanyahu is planning a visit to Türkiye and a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the summer, according to political sources in Tel Aviv and Ankara on Saturday.

They added that the visit was brought up during a phone call between Foreign Minister Eli Cohen on Thursday with the newly appointed Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

Barak Ravid, a political correspondent from Walla! News said that there are ongoing talks between Israel's Prime Minister's Office and the Turkish President's Office regarding Netanyahu's soon-expected visit.

"The relations between Israel and Türkiye are important for regional stability and peace," Cohen said.

“The renewal of the flights of the Israeli airlines to Türkiye will further increase the tourism ties between the countries and strengthen the friendship between the nations,” he added.

Fidan thanked Minister Cohen for the Israeli aid delegation to Türkiye after the recent earthquake.

Erdogan had congratulated Netanyahu via a phone call for his election as prime minister at the beginning of the year. Following the call, Israel and Türkiye resumed full diplomatic ties in January after the years-long crisis.

Channel 12 reported that the officials in Netanyahu’s office believe that Erdogan approved a meeting with Netanyahu amid efforts to rebuild strong ties between Türkiye and Israel.

However, other diplomatic sources said the process has encountered some difficulties, namely, that Erdogan will only meet Netanyahu if he delivers news on gas cooperation between the countries.

Türkiye has been eager to build a pipeline to deliver gas from Israel to Europe.

Other sources said that Netanyahu is still waiting for an invitation from the White House to visit Washington. Netanyahu is relying on other issues of interest for the public opinion in Israel and therefore is betting on visiting Türkiye and resuming efforts to visit Abu Dhabi.

 



Macron Says Knife Attack in East France Was 'Terrorism'

A police investigator of French forensic police works to collect evidence at the site of a bladed weapon attack where a man is suspected of killing one person and wounding two municipal police officers in Mulhouse, eastern France on February 22, 2025. (AFP)
A police investigator of French forensic police works to collect evidence at the site of a bladed weapon attack where a man is suspected of killing one person and wounding two municipal police officers in Mulhouse, eastern France on February 22, 2025. (AFP)
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Macron Says Knife Attack in East France Was 'Terrorism'

A police investigator of French forensic police works to collect evidence at the site of a bladed weapon attack where a man is suspected of killing one person and wounding two municipal police officers in Mulhouse, eastern France on February 22, 2025. (AFP)
A police investigator of French forensic police works to collect evidence at the site of a bladed weapon attack where a man is suspected of killing one person and wounding two municipal police officers in Mulhouse, eastern France on February 22, 2025. (AFP)

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday a knife attack that killed one and injured three in eastern France on Saturday was "Islamist terrorism", after France's anti-terrorism prosecutor's office confirmed it was investigating the case.

A man attacked local police officers in the city of Mulhouse on Saturday afternoon, the PNAT prosecutor's office said in a statement.

A passer-by was killed trying to intervene, while three police officers were injured, the prosecutor's office added.

"It is without any doubt an act of Islamist terrorism," Macron told reporters on the sidelines of the annual French farm show, adding that the interior minister was on his way to Mulhouse.

The suspect has been arrested, the prosecutor's office said.