Netanyahu Delays Azerbaijan Visit Amid Reports about Turkish Refusal for Airspace Access
Occupied Palestine (Quds News Network)- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has postponed his visit to Azerbaijan. Reports indicate that Turkey’s refusal to allow his plane to cross its airspace is a key reason for the delay.
On Saturday, Netanyahu’s office announced the decision to defer the visit, originally scheduled for May 7-11. The office cited ‘recent developments in Gaza and Syria’, as well as a “busy diplomatic and security schedule.” A new date for the visit has not been announced.
During the planned trip, Netanyahu was set to meet with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Israel and Azerbaijan maintain strong ties in security and energy sectors.
In a related development, the Turkish Foreign Ministry denied claims regarding permission for Netanyahu’s plane to use Turkish airspace. Spokesperson Onur Keleş stated that the allegations were “completely untrue” and that no request had been received for such permission.
On April 11, Israeli broadcasting reported that Turkey had previously denied a request for an Israeli Air Force plane to pass through its airspace en route to Azerbaijan.
The report noted that Turkish authorities refused to allow the Israeli Air Force’s RAM 707 aircraft to pass through, forcing it to reroute over the Black Sea. An unnamed Israeli source indicated that Turkey’s reluctance stemmed from the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
The decision to deny airspace access came before talks held Thursday between representatives of both countries in Azerbaijan. These discussions aimed to address tensions in Syria and find ways to prevent further escalation.
There have been no commercial flights between Israel and Turkey since the outbreak of the Gaza genocide on October 7, 2023. While Netanyahu’s office attributed the visit’s postponement to ongoing developments in Gaza and Syria, Israeli news site Walla reported that Turkey’s refusal to grant airspace permission was the primary reason for the delay.
