Israeli President Isaac Herzog (1st R, Front) addresses representatives of the Jewish community in Istanbul, Turkey, on March 10, 2022. Following a "historic" meeting with the Turkish president in the capital Ankara, Israeli President Isaac Herzog met with representatives of the Jewish community in Turkey's financial and cultural hub Istanbul on Thursday. (Xinhua/Shadati)
ISTANBUL, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Following a "historic" meeting with the Turkish president in the capital Ankara, Israeli President Isaac Herzog met with representatives of the Jewish community in Turkey's financial and cultural hub Istanbul on Thursday.
Addressing the community members at the Neve Shalom Synagogue in the Beyoglu district, Herzog praised Turkey for opening "its gates and heart to the daughters and sons of the Jewish people, who found a firm foothold here," according to a statement issued by the Israeli embassy.
The Israeli president also told the community that he had a "good, open, and honest" conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan the previous day in Ankara.
"In our meeting, I told him how important the Israel-Turkey relationship is to me. I told him that I believe that all of us, the children of all religions in the Middle East, can and must live in peace," Herzog was quoted as saying in the statement.
In a tweet he shared the previous night, Herzog posted a photo showing him and Erdogan shaking hands.
"This is a key moment for the relations between Israel and Turkey," he wrote. "We won't always agree on everything, but I expect us to work together toward the stability, prosperity, peace, and security of our region for the sake of all nations here. Good neighborly relations in the Eastern Med are important to us all."
Herzog's visit has been described by many as a big step toward softening the long-lasting tense relations between the two countries.
Irfan Karsli, head of the Istanbul-based Ligarba Travel Agency, told Xinhua that Herzog carried very lucrative opportunities to Turkey in terms of promoting new business cooperation and partnerships.
"It is a very positive step for the normalization of relations between the two countries, and it is highly welcomed in the business world here," he told Xinhua.
Herzog's historic visit comes after more than a decade of deterioration in the bilateral relations between Turkey and Israel. Both sides recalled their ambassadors in 2018 when tensions over the Gaza Strip and Jerusalem caused a rift between them.
In recent months Erdogan has called for mending ties with Israel. ■
Israeli President Isaac Herzog (on the podium) addresses representatives of the Jewish community in Istanbul, Turkey, on March 10, 2022. Following a "historic" meeting with the Turkish president in the capital Ankara, Israeli President Isaac Herzog met with representatives of the Jewish community in Turkey's financial and cultural hub Istanbul on Thursday. (Xinhua/Shadati)
Israeli President Isaac Herzog (3rd L) meets with representatives of the Jewish community in Istanbul, Turkey, on March 10, 2022. Following a "historic" meeting with the Turkish president in the capital Ankara, Israeli President Isaac Herzog met with representatives of the Jewish community in Turkey's financial and cultural hub Istanbul on Thursday. (Xinhua/Shadati)
Israeli President Isaac Herzog (Front) attends a meeting with representatives of the Jewish community in Istanbul, Turkey, on March 10, 2022. Following a "historic" meeting with the Turkish president in the capital Ankara, Israeli President Isaac Herzog met with representatives of the Jewish community in Turkey's financial and cultural hub Istanbul on Thursday. (Xinhua/Shadati)
Israeli President Isaac Herzog (C) meets with representatives of the Jewish community in Istanbul, Turkey, on March 10, 2022. Following a "historic" meeting with the Turkish president in the capital Ankara, Israeli President Isaac Herzog met with representatives of the Jewish community in Turkey's financial and cultural hub Istanbul on Thursday. (Xinhua/Shadati)
Israeli President Isaac Herzog (C) meets with representatives of the Jewish community in Istanbul, Turkey, on March 10, 2022. Following a "historic" meeting with the Turkish president in the capital Ankara, Israeli President Isaac Herzog met with representatives of the Jewish community in Turkey's financial and cultural hub Istanbul on Thursday. (Xinhua/Shadati)
