Israel warms to Turkey’s charm offensive
The decision by Tel Aviv University to establish academic bridges with three Turkish institutions reflects Jerusalem’s growing interest in Ankara’s policy of rapprochement.
Tel Aviv University announced April 26 a new academic collaboration with three Turkish institutions: Koc, Ozyegin and Sabanci.
"The purpose of the initiative is to promote academic research in both countries. Every year Tel Aviv University welcomes thousands of Muslim and Christian students from Israel and around the world, and we will be delighted to extend this collaboration to leading universities in Turkey as well. Academia is a bridge between nations and a key to economic and social growth everywhere," said Tel Aviv University president professor Ariel Porat. The announced Academic Bridge Initiative strives for academic collaborations on different levels, including student exchanges, faculty program exchanges and joint research initiatives.
The April 26 announcement followed a meeting last week in Istanbul where Porat met with three Turkish counterparts of the abovementioned universities. Tel Aviv University vice president professor Milette Shamir, the university’s vice president for resource development Amos Elad, Israel’s consul general in Istanbul Udi Eitam and several leaders of the Jewish community in Turkey also attended the exceptional meeting.
But the academic initiative between Israeli and Turkish institutions, the first of its kind in a decade, was not the only sign in recent weeks of warming bilateral ties.
