Azerbaijan, Israel, and Turkey to open to a trilateral summit

A greater interest in the inter-regional activity, coupled with Azerbaijan’s presence in the energy sector, emphasizes clearing all the major roadblocks that stand in the way of opening the doors to natural trade. On the Middle Eastern end, the Abraham Accords serve to relax the geopolitical tensions hindering Gulf State trade and communication. Now, an interest in opening up the economic corridor of the Karabakh puts the spotlight on the need for cooperation in removing landmines, absolving human rights issues, and developing sustainable infrastructure.

In the spirit of that relaxation, talks have turned in the Israeli press, toward the channels through which the communication lines between Israel and Turkey can open once again. The Jerusalem Post reported in January that at least six channels of civil society cooperation can intensify. The Jerusalem Post reported that Turkish President Erdogan had voiced Turkey’s desire to have better ties with Israel, despite the divisions caused by the flotilla incident and emphasized by disagreements over the regional conflict between the Israeli State and the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank.

Israel and Turkey had enjoyed continuous diplomatic relations since 1949, which had been interrupted by political issues of the last decade, The Jerusalem Post reported.

“Cooperation between Israeli and Turkish civil society organizations can increase their capacity to tackle these issues, serve as a platform to exchange best practices, lead to innovative joint endeavors, broaden ties between like-minded professionals in both countries, and improve mutual public perceptions. This may also have a positive spill-over effect on official relations. As cooperation among societies increases, Israel-Turkey relations will become less dependent on the politicians,” wrote The Jerusalem Post Opinion. 

Joining the conversation are talks of women’s rights and greater education. The presence of Azerbaijan as an empowered mediator in geopolitical relations may also serve to educate and influence ties between its allies. In this Republic Underground roundtable, Ayan Aliyeva discussed how women’s rights and education that focused on an entrepreneurial education can impact Azerbaijan. As the Karabakh reconstruction process unfolds, Azerbaijan’s greater social education comes with the conversation between its allies. 

While the signs of Israel tolerance are starting to bear more fruit, the normalizing of relations has been a gradual process. Daily Sabah likewise reported within the last four weeks that it would come as no surprise to the public if Israel and Turkey were to normalize ties soon, and with the mutual ally in Azerbaijan, the budding process may be seen to assist the preexisting process.

The question remains how the regions of the Middle East, Eurasia, and the Caucasus are coming together in new ways, how they might engage Armenia in a meaningful way, to address the easement of political tensions within the country as well as to deescalate some high-risk issues such as the Metsamor plant. What are your thoughts? 

The #Chernobyl disaster took place 35 years ago. Dangers still remain from Soviet era reactors. The #Armenia #nuclear power plant #Metsamor is one of the last operating without a containment vessel. Metsamor is located in a major seismic zone @eu_eeas https://t.co/wIgV89Pruv

— Brenda Shaffer (@ProfBShaffer) April 26, 2021

The complex issues of the Palestinian Authority conflict with the state of Israel are driven by many factors, see The Washington Institute. They are, in part, driven by religious factional dispute and extremism. This is another area where the presence of Azerbaijan as a mediator and friend might serve as a helpful civil society voice, and benefit Israel domestically. Azerbaijan natively enjoys religious pluralism between Shia and Sunni Muslims, Jews, and Christians and has since antiquity. What can the history of religious tolerance, coexistence, and today’s civil society programs in Azerbaijan lend to the de-escalation of the religious components of conflict between the Israeli Muslims and the Israeli Orthodox Jews? We’d love to hear your thoughts after you hear what these religious tolerance experts from Azerbaijan have to say about their fully integrated Abrahamic religious communities. 

As Azerbaijan rebuilds, and opens its doors to more international relationships, the nation stands out in the international community for its capacity as an international influence. One way that Azerbaijan contributes to the international discussion is through the understanding between its religious communities that has been established by sharing the region for centuries.

Israel, despite its ancient roots, has experienced growing pains of a nation adopted and redeveloped post World War II. Many of these growing pains are challenged by religious-based propaganda.

“Religion-based rumors propagated by extremists in the media and social media about the hidden religious agendas of the other side exacerbate these tensions. Examples include rumors about a “Jewish Plan” to destroy al Aqsa mosque and build the Jewish third temple on its remnants, and, on the other side rumors that Muslims hold the annihilation of Jews at the core of their belief,” wrote the Washington Institute.

Azerbaijan has also been faced with religious-based propaganda that was the result of its Karabakh conflict. Yet, with a history and culture stretching back into the days of Zarathustrian religion, Azerbaijan’s civil society organizations can lend a unique voice and education to those who would seek to pacify the inter-religious conflict between Muslims and Jews.