Turkey Says Israel Could Join Regional Bloc If It Recognizes Palestinian State

ANKARA – Turkey on Saturday said Israel could be brought into a wider Middle East security and cooperation architecture, but only if it recognizes an independent Palestinian state along the pre-1967 borders, according to remarks published in a Nikkei Asia interview.

In the interview, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said a durable settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict could open the door to a new regional framework rooted in security, economic cooperation and mutual respect among neighboring countries.

Fidan argued that, under such an arrangement, states in the region could help ensure Israel’s security, provided that a two-state solution is reached and longstanding disputes are settled.

He said the envisioned framework could bring together Turkey, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Gulf states. Iran could also take part, he added, if tensions in the region ease and ties are normalized.

“We must build a system where all countries respect each other’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security,” Fidan said, laying out Ankara’s view of expanded regional cooperation.

The comments came as Turkey prepares to host a key meeting of NATO member states in Ankara in July, while diplomatic efforts continue across the Middle East to confront conflict and security threats.

They also followed renewed appeals by U.S. President Donald Trump for more countries to join the Abraham Accords, the agreement intended to broaden diplomatic normalization between Israel and Arab nations.

Turkey has sharply criticized Israeli operations in the Palestinian territories and relations with Israeli leaders have remained strained in recent years. Even so, Ankara has maintained formal ties with Israel for decades. Turkey became the first Muslim-majority country to recognize Israel in 1949 and was among the earliest states to establish diplomatic relations with the Jewish state.

Over time, those ties have swung between cooperation and confrontation, reflecting the broader turbulence of regional politics.

AXADLETM