Symbolic breakthrough: Azerbaijan mediates Türkiye’s airspace approval for Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to travel to Azerbaijan on the evening of May 7 aboard the Israeli government’s official aircraft, Kanaf Zion (“Wing of Zion”) — a journey made possible after Türkiye granted permission for the plane to transit through its airspace.

The move, according to AIAglobal, is seen as a subtle yet significant step toward easing diplomatic friction between Türkiye and Israel, Caliber.Az reports.

It comes months after Ankara barred Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s aircraft from flying over Turkish territory in November 2024, effectively preventing his attendance at the COP29 summit in Baku.

“This represents a small but symbolic success for Azerbaijani mediation between Israel and Turkey to reduce tensions between the countries,” AIAglobal observed, highlighting Baku’s quiet yet strategic role as a diplomatic bridge.

Netanyahu’s visit, scheduled from May 7 to May 11, will include a series of high-level engagements aimed at reinforcing Israeli-Azerbaijani ties. He will meet with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on May 8 for bilateral talks expected to cover defence cooperation, energy, trade, and regional security.

Beyond diplomacy, Netanyahu's itinerary also reflects a strong cultural dimension. According to Israeli media, he will observe the Jewish Sabbath during his stay—something he consistently does on international trips—and will also meet with representatives of Azerbaijan’s Jewish community, reaffirming longstanding religious and cultural bonds.

Adding to the symbolism of the visit, May 8 coincides with the anniversary of the death of Albert Agarunov, an Azerbaijani Jewish national hero who died in 1992 defending Shusha during the First Karabakh War. Netanyahu plans to pay tribute to Agarunov by visiting his grave at the Alley of Martyrs in Baku, honouring a figure who embodies the shared history of Azerbaijan and its Jewish citizens.

By Tamilla Hasanova