J Street statement on Israeli-Turkish reconciliation

J Street applauds President Barack Obama for brokering a reconciliation between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that has dramatically reversed a deterioration in relations between the two US allies since the 2010 flotilla incident.

Prime Ministers Netanyahu and Erdogan are to be commended for seizing the moment of President Obama’s visit to the region to repair historic bilateral ties that for decades have enhanced their nations’ security and provided a critical bridge between Muslim-majority countries and the world’s only Jewish-majority state.

J Street welcomes subsequent positive statements by officials from both countries, and urges the US Government to remain engaged in not merely restoring, but advancing the vital Israel-Turkey relationship to new areas and levels of cooperation. This remarkable turn of events demonstrates the power and promise of unflinching US diplomatic leadership in the Middle East, even amidst considerable uncertainty and conflict.