Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan obtained a delegation of rabbis on the Presidential Advanced in Ankara yesterday as a part of the primary annual Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States summit. The alliance was based in 2019, by rabbis dwelling in Muslim-majority nations to advertise tolerance and coexistence.
Among the many Jewish leaders current had been the Chief Rabbi of Turkey, Isaak Haleva, his Russian counterpart Berel Lazar and different overseas main rabbinic authorities.
Talking on the significance of peace and stability within the Center East, Erdogan stated: “Turkey’s best need is a Center East the place societies from totally different religions, languages and ethnicities reside collectively in peace.”
Through the assembly Erdogan additionally stated that “Relations between Turkey, Jews and Israel will at all times be sturdy”, including that “Financial relations between the 2 nations are stronger than ever and can proceed to develop.”
We thank President @RTErdogan for warmly welcoming the First Annual Summit of Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States – beneath auspices of Hahambashi Isak Haleva of @tyahuditoplumu – the nice and cozy welcome and brotherly setting will stay with us eternally.https://t.co/ysmWuL2Rzg
— Alliance Rabbis Islamic States (@RabbisAlliance) December 22, 2021
Whereas acknowledging variations with Israel over insurance policies in the direction of Palestinians, he stated “our relationships with Israel within the fields of economic system, commerce and tourism are progressing in their very own method” however harassed that Israel’s “honest and constructive angle” to peace efforts will contribute to the normalisation course of between Ankara and Tel Aviv.
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Final month, Erdogan stated Turkey was seeking to enhance ties with Israel after years of strained relations. In 2018 Turkey recalled its ambassador from Israel over lethal assaults towards Palestinians within the Gaza Strip, however appointed a brand new envoy in 2020. Israel was additionally accused of espionage after an Israeli couple had been arrested after taking pictures of Erdogan’s Istanbul residence however had been later released, avoiding a diplomatic crisis between the 2 nations.
The Turkish chief additionally mentioned Islamophobia and anti-Semitism, each of which he deemed crimes towards humanity. “Turkish lands have additionally been a haven of peace for Jews who’ve been persecuted in several elements of the world all through historical past,” he reminded the delegation, including that Turkey welcomed the Jews who fled the Spanish Inquisition within the late fifteenth century. Most of Turkey’s Jewish inhabitants, of roughly 25,000 are descendants of Sephardic Jews who sought sanctuary within the Ottoman Empire following their expulsion from Spain in 1492.
