Azerbaijan’s Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov, who also serves as chairman of SOCAR, the country’s national energy company, is set to arrive in Israel on Saturday at the head of a delegation for a rare visit.
During his trip, Jabbarov will sign an agreement granting SOCAR licenses for gas exploration in Israel, a move expected to bolster Israel’s energy security and deepen strategic cooperation between the two countries.
The visit, the first by a minister from a Muslim-majority nation since the October 7 Hamas attack, comes as Israel and Azerbaijan strengthen ties against the backdrop of Iranian threats. Observers suggest that Azerbaijan’s growing partnership with Israel could pave the way for its inclusion in the Abraham Accords, further stabilizing regional alliances.
President Isaac Herzog has played a key role in fostering the trilateral relationship between Israel, Azerbaijan and the United States. His efforts have contributed to warming ties between Azerbaijan and Washington after years of diplomatic strain. As part of this rapprochement, SOCAR was recently allowed to invest in Israel’s Tamar offshore gas field, and now it is expanding its involvement with new exploration licenses.
Alongside the signing ceremony at the Energy Ministry on Monday, Jabbarov is scheduled to meet with Herzog, as well as Israeli ministers Zeev Elkin and Nir Barkat. He is also set to hold discussions with business leaders, including Amnon Shashua, founder of Mobileye, and top executives from Bank Leumi and other companies.
Jabbarov’s visit follows a meeting last month between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hikmet Hajiyev, a senior foreign policy advisor to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. During their talks in Jerusalem, Hajiyev delivered a message from Aliyev, reaffirming Azerbaijan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and discussing regional developments.
Azerbaijan, a Shiite Muslim country, has remained a steadfast supporter of Israel throughout the Swords of Iron War. Unlike other Muslim-majority nations, Azerbaijan has seen no anti-Israel protests, and local bloggers have openly expressed solidarity with Israel while criticizing Hamas. Despite Iranian pressure to halt oil exports to Israel, Azerbaijan has continued supplying fuel throughout the war. The country provides nearly one-third of Israel’s oil needs.
Additionally, Azerbaijan’s security services have thwarted Iranian-backed terror plots targeting Israel’s embassy and the Jewish community within its borders. Senior Azerbaijani officials have privately expressed their support for Israel, stating they hope for Hamas’ defeat—even at the risk of straining ties with Turkey, a key Azerbaijani ally, whose President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has taken a strong anti-Israel stance since the war began.
Itamar Eichner
