Istanbul protest over Herzog visit to Turkey

Around 150 demonstrators joined a protest in Istanbul on Wednesday against Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit to Turkey amid thawing relations between the two countries. The protesters were comprised of various pro-Islamist groups. Notable among them were the IHH, an international humanitarian relief foundation whose members are pre-dominantly Turkish pro-Islamists and the Mavi Marmara Freedom and Solidarity Association, a foundation built in dedication of a Gaza-bound flotilla carrying humanitarian aid for Palestinians that broke an Israeli blockade in 2010.

Israeli forces stormed the flotilla, resulting in the deaths of nine Turkish activists aboard the Mavi Marmara flagship. The IHH, along with the Free Gaza Movement, had organised the flotilla prior to the incident. Herzog traveled to Turkey on Wednesday, becoming the first Israeli leader to visit in 14 years, as the two countries move to turn a new page in their troubled relationship.

Herzog is scheduled to hold talks with President Recip Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara before traveling to Istanbul for meetings with Turkey's Jewish community there. Behesti Ismail Songur, the president of Mavi Marmara Freedom and Solidarity Association, told the Associated Press that the meeting between Erdogan and Herzog would "carry the occupation by Israel in the region to a legitimate basis". Songur urged Turkish politicians to "not shake hands with murderers."

Turkey and Israel were once close allies, but the relationship frayed under Erdogan, who is an outspoken critic of Israel's policies toward the Palestinians. Israel, for its part, has been angered by Erdogan's embrace of Hamas, the militant group that controls the Gaza Strip. Israel considers Hamas a terrorist group.

The countries withdrew their ambassadors in 2010 after Israeli forces stormed a Gaza-bound flotilla carrying humanitarian aid for the Palestinians that broke an Israeli blockade. Relations broke down again in 2018 when Turkey, angered by the U.S. moving its embassy to Jerusalem, once more recalled its ambassador from Israel, prompting Israel to also recall its envoy. The two countries have not so far reappointed ambassadors.

The steps toward a rapprochement with Israel comes as Turkey, beset by economic troubles, has been trying to end its international isolation by normalising its frayed ties with several countries of the region, including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

In the first step toward reconciliation, Erdogan called Herzog by phone after the Israeli head of state took office last year and the two have held several telephone conversations since then. Erdogan has also spoken to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett following the release of an Israeli couple who were arrested in Istanbul on suspicion of spying. Turkey for its part has said there would be no change to Ankara's position toward the Palestinians despite the normalisation efforts with Israel.