Israel-Turkey meeting in Azerbaijan: 'We agreed to maintain communication'

A thank you came from Netanyahu's office to Azerbaijani President Aliyev.

Turkish and Israeli delegations met in Azerbaijan to discuss mechanisms for preventing conflicts in Syria. The meeting, announced by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan during a television interview on Wednesday evening, is described as the first technical meeting between the two countries. In a statement regarding the meeting, the Ministry of National Defense expressed that "Israel needs to abandon its expansionist and occupying attitude for the provision of regional security, and the international community must prevent this illegality." According to a report by Anadolu Agency (AA), the Ministry stated that Israel must immediately cease its "provocative attacks" that threaten Syria's territorial integrity and disrupt the country's security and stability, emphasizing that illegal settlement activities in the West Bank also undermine stability and peace in the region.

Thanking Aliyev The announcement from Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's office also stated that the Israeli delegation, led by National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi, met with their Turkish counterparts in Azerbaijan. "In the discussions, both sides presented their interests in the region and agreed on maintaining a communication channel with the aim of preserving security stability." Netanyahu's office also thanked Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for hosting the talks. "We do not want conflict with Turkey," he had said. Meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this week in the Oval Office, Netanyahu stated, "We do not want conflict with Turkey. The relations with the U.S. are very good." Trump also mentioned that he has very good relations with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, saying, "I like Erdoğan, he likes me. I congratulate Turkey. I told Erdoğan that you did what nobody has been able to do for 2,000 years, you took control of Syria."