Maariv: Turkiye is looking forward to improving relations with Israel

Maariv newspaper reported that while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been attacking Israel since the start of the war in Gaza, he actually wants to improve diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv.

Last week, Turkey's deputy ambassador to Israel was summoned by Foreign Minister Israel Katz after Erdogan said that "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his administration, with their crimes against humanity in Gaza, write their names next to Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin, like the Nazis today."

According to the Israeli newspaper, “While reprimanding the Turkish deputy ambassador, the diplomat told Foreign Ministry Director General Jacob Blitstein that Erdogan’s harsh rhetoric against Israel stems from Erdogan’s political considerations in the local elections in Turkey.”

The deputy ambassador added, "After the elections, Turkey wants to begin improving relations with Israel, including returning the Israeli ambassador who was recalled to Israel at the beginning of the war, as well as returning Turkey's ambassador to Israel."

Katz had mocked in a post on the “X” platform the loss of the Justice and Development Party led by Erdogan in the local elections , and said: “Defeat for Erdogan’s candidates in the local elections in Turkey. Congratulations to the winners, Akram Imamoglu in Istanbul, and Mansur Yavaş in Ankara, and a clear message to Erdogan - incitement.” Against Israel it no longer works.”