Turkish FM to visit Israel in wake of Herzog-Erdogan goodwill summit

Turkish President Recep Erdogan laid out what he expects from Israel when he treated President Isaac Herzog to a lavish welcome in Ankara on Wednesday to mark the historic end of 14 years of acrimony. In a speech alongside his guest, Erdogan said: “We have 4 oil drilling ships in the Mediterranean and Black Seas. Relations with Israel in the field of energy must be advanced.” He indicated too that Israel’s offshore gas exports should be piped to Europe through Turkey. The Turkish foreign minister would soon visit Israel, he said, but omitted to say whether the Turkish ambassador would be sent back to his post. Herzog echoed the good wishes for a better era in the relationship and hopes that matters still at issue would be resolved in a positive and mutually respectful manner.