DistantNews
Support us
🇮🇱 Israel /Elections & Politics

Israeli think tank urges tougher measures against Turkish consulate, limiting diplomatic presence

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • An Israeli think tank recommends stricter measures against the Turkish consulate in Jerusalem, citing alleged "hostile Turkish influence."
  • The policy paper suggests revoking diplomatic benefits, canceling work visas, and restricting movement for Turkish representatives.
  • The report argues the consulate operates more as a liaison to the Palestinian Authority than an official Israeli representative office, undermining Israeli sovereignty.

A new policy paper from the Jerusalem Center for Applied Policy (JCAP) urges the Israeli government to implement tougher measures against the Turkish consulate in Jerusalem. The paper, authored by retired ambassador Ran Yishai, calls for a significant reduction in the consulate's activities and a limitation of its representatives' diplomatic status.

Among the paper's 10 recommendations are revoking diplomatic benefits, canceling work visas, restricting freedom of movement within Israel, and removing immunity from diplomatic vehicles. It also proposes reexamining the activities of Turkish institutions operating in Jerusalem under the consulate's patronage, such as the Yunus Emre cultural center and the TIKA aid agency.

For years Turkey has undermined Israel’s sovereignty, while Israel turned a blind eye. The Turkish consulate in Jerusalem is the locomotive driving Turkey’s hostile policy toward Israel in the city, one that denies Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem and seeks to restore Turkey to a leading status in the city.

— Ran YishaiDescribing the alleged actions of the Turkish consulate in Jerusalem and Turkey's broader policy towards Israel.

According to Yishai, the Turkish consulate in Jerusalem does not function as a legitimate representative office to Israel but rather as a body primarily working with the Palestinian Authority. He argues this justifies Israel in denying its representatives the full range of benefits typically granted in diplomatic relations. Yishai claims Turkey has long undermined Israel's sovereignty in Jerusalem, with Israel previously overlooking these actions.

"The Turkish consulate in Jerusalem is the locomotive driving Turkey's hostile policy toward Israel in the city, one that denies Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem and seeks to restore Turkey to a leading status in the city," Yishai stated. He contends that Israel has allowed the consulate to operate beyond its official status for decades, acting as if it were an embassy to the Palestinian Authority, a situation he believes must end.

For decades Israel has allowed the consulate to operate in Jerusalem as if it were an embassy to the Palestinian Authority. That situation must end.

— Ran YishaiExplaining the JCAP paper's argument for limiting the Turkish consulate's status and activities.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog