Erdoğan calls to congratulate new Israeli President Herzog

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on July 12 phoned Israel’s new President Isaac Herzog to congratulate him for assuming the office, the Turkish presidency said. During the conversation, the two leaders reportedly discussed the high potential for cooperation in fields such as energy, tourism and technology.

Monday July 12 2021 11:27 pm

This collage photo shows Erdoğan (L) and Hertzog.

Duvar English - Anadolu Agency

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on July 12 spoke over the phone with his Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog and discussed relations between the two countries as well as regional issues.

In a statement, the Turkish Communications Directorate said that Erdoğan congratulated Herzog on his inauguration as president.

Erdoğan said there is a high potential for cooperation between the two countries in various fields, particularly in energy, tourism and technology.

During their phone talk, Erdoğan also said that the international community expects permanent and comprehensive two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict within the framework of UN resolutions.

Erdoğan said that positive steps to be taken for the settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict would also contribute to the positive course of Turkey-Israel relations.

Relations between Turkey and Israel are of great importance for the security and stability of the Middle East, he added.

Herzog mentioned the call with Erdoğan in a post on Twitter.

"I spoke a few hours ago with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, who called to congratulate me on assuming my position as the President of the State of Israel.

"We both emphasized that Israeli-Turkish relations are of great importance for security and stability in the Middle East. We agreed on the continuation of a dialogue in order to improve relations between our countries," he said.

Middle East. We agreed on the continuation of a dialogue in order to improve relations between our countries.
— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) July 12, 2021

Former Labor party leader Herzog took office on July 7 as Israel’s 11th president, succeeding Reuven Rivlin.

Pledging to heal deep divisions in Israel, Herzog promised to be “the president of everyone.”