Israeli Politicsupdated 1h ago2 min read
Isaac Herzog Meets Ilham Aliyev in Baku To Strengthen Israeli-Azerbaijani Cooperation
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Herzog and Aliyev discussed deepening strategic ties between Israel and Azerbaijan in Baku. Aliyev pledged to advance practical cooperation with Israel and Azerbaijan.
Herzog in Baku
President Isaac Herzog met Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku on Wednesday as part of the Seventh Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA). Herzog thanked Aliyev for the warm welcome and described Azerbaijan’s role as a hub of stability and international cooperation during the meeting.
Herzog said, "Israel and Azerbaijan share a unique relationship, one that has been developed over many years and has proven its importance in complex times as well," and he added that the friendship is of deep value. Aliyev promised to strengthen Israeli-Azerbaijani cooperation and to advance practical cooperation between the two countries, according to the meeting readout.
Regional tensions and Iran
Herzog met Aliyev in Baku to discuss ways to deepen the “strategic relationship” between Israel and Azerbaijan despite regional tensions. Israel has become Azerbaijan’s most important military supplier, providing drones, missiles, and advanced weapons systems, and more than 70% of Azerbaijan's arms imports come from Israel.
Iran views the partnership with alarm and a spokesman for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Command warned, "expel the Zionists from that country and do not endanger the security of your own people and Islamic Iran." The Times of Israel liveblog readout said the presidents discussed ways to deepen the strategic relationship rooted in mutual respect, shared interests, and deep historical ties, and it said Herzog thanked Aliyev for partnership and open dialogue.
Diplomacy and domestic friction
Azerbaijan’s Ruling Party, headed by Aliyev, criticized Turkey for stoking artificial tensions between the two countries over a new law banning the wearing of hijabs in primary schools. The New Azerbaijan Party told Ankara to respect Baku’s ties with Israel, and Baku arrested at least 37 people for protesting against the hijab ban on Monday.
Aliyev said, "Everyone should know their place; they should not interfere in our affairs, stick their noses into our way of life, or tell us what to do." Professor Vagif Abdullayev called the planned visit of the Israeli president an important socio-political event and said, "Azerbaijan-Israel relations have a strategic nature."