Zionist Israeli mayors hold meeting with Turkish

A delegation of Zionist Israeli mayors has met with their Turkish counterparts in a convention in Turkey with the goal of restoring bilateral relations.

The meeting took place during an extraordinary mayoral convention, initiated by the Turkish side after intensive talks with the director of diplomatic relations at the Union of Local Authorities in Zionist Israel, Ynet reported on Tuesday.

With a humanitarian flotilla preparing to set sail for the besieged Gaza Strip, and in the shadow of the ongoing tense relations between Tel Aviv and Ankara, there are still those who believe that mutual trust can be rebuilt.

The mayor of Rosh HaAyin, Moshe Sinai, led the Zionist Israeli delegation.

The meeting was sponsored by Europe’s COPPEM organization which is responsible for expanding cooperation between the Mediterranean countries through developing social projects and organizing unofficial gatherings between countries that do not share diplomatic relations.

The convention was held around 10 days after Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan’s victory in the country’s general elections.

During the convention, The Turkish side tried to alleviate Israeli concerns that the election results might change Turkey’s secular character.

The two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding and also agreed to hold youth exchange programs to have a Turkish delegation film a documentary about Israel, and to hold joint cultural and culinary festivals beginning next year.