BICOM

It was reported yesterday that a Turkish official thanked his Israeli counterpart for Israel’s stance during the chaotic coup attempt which unfolded in Turkey over the weekend.

Violent clashes overnight Friday, as Turkish military factions attempted to seize power, killed around 290 people. Hours after the coup attempt was launched and appeared to be faltering, Emmanuel Nahshon, spokesman for Israel’s Foreign Ministry said: “Israel respects the democratic process in Turkey and looks forward to the continuation of the reconciliation process between Turkey and Israel.”

Last month, Israel and Turkey agreed a reconciliation accord, putting an end to a six-year freeze in diplomatic relations. Israel agreed to permit Turkish aid and infrastructure projects in the Gaza Strip, while Turkey will not allow itself to be used as a base for terror groups such as Hamas. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his cabinet yesterday:“It is our assumption that this process will continue regardless of the dramatic events in Turkey over the weekend.”

According to media reports, a Turkish official told an Israeli official:“We are grateful for the messages and appreciate them, and will continue the reconciliation process as normal.”

Meanwhile, due to the weekend violence, UNESCO’s (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation) 21-member World Heritage Committee cut short its annual session in Istanbul, which was meant to end tomorrow. As a result, there was no time to debate or vote on a controversial joint Palestinian-Jordanian motion, which questions any Jewish connection to Jerusalem’s Temple Mount and accuses Israel of abuses regarding the holy site.

Irina Bokova, director-general UNESCO, issued a statement affirming that Jerusalem’s Old City is sacred to the three monotheistic faiths, which said: “To deny or conceal any of the Jewish, Christian or Muslim traditions undermines the integrity of the site, and runs counter to the reasons that justified its inscription in 1981 as a World Heritage site.”

However, Israel’s Ambassador to UNESCO, Carmel Shama Hacohen, warned that “this is just a time-out”. He added: “There is no doubt that the Palestinians and the Arab nations will not refrain from battle… the Temple Mount and Jerusalem is the mainstay of Palestinian incitement against Israel”.

He said the subject will likely be raised again at a UNESCO gathering in October.