Two representatives from Turkey were in Israel on Monday. They met in the Knesset with Israeli representatives to discuss the current crisis in the relations between Turkey and Israel.
The two are representatives of Adnan Oktar, an Istabul-based theologian and philosopher who has many followers in Turkey and is very influential in shaping the public opinion there.
They met with MK Rabbi Nissim Zeev (Shas), who also arranged their meetings at the Knesset, as well as with Knesset Speaker MK Reuven Rivlin (Likud), coalition chairman MK Zeev Elkin (Likud), and Nazim Bader, the Deputy Secretary General of the Knesset.
A separate meeting with Internal Affairs Minister Eli Yishai (Shas) was arranged by Rabbi Yeshayahu HaKohen Hollander, leading justice of the Sanhedrin Rabbinic Court, Rabbi Avraham Haim and Rabbi Menashe Zelikha.
Oktar said in an e-mail exchange with Arutz Sheva that the meetings went very well, and that his representatives explained to the Israelis about the urgent need to end the conflict and tension between the two countries.
"We would like to give a powerful and clear message that we are embracing Jews and Christians as well, and that we will not sleep unless any of the countries in the region is at ease and peace - including Israel," he said.
"We would like to declare that every country deserves to live in security and feel at peace," added Oktar. "So we care about Israel's security just like we care about the people in Gaza and any other country, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Iraq....We will work together for a solution that pleases every side."
Oktar said that his representatives invited Yishai, Rivlin, and Zeev to Istanbul, adding that all three expressed their desire to come to Turkey and meet Oktar in person.
The three were given as a gift books Oktar has written, including his book entitled "A Call For Unity".
On Sunday, Oktar told Arutz Sheva that while "it really does not look" as though the Turkey-Israel conflict is going to be resolved, he still believes it is possible to avert such a disaster.
Turkey downgraded its relations with Israel when the latter refused to apologize for the incident on the Mavi Marmara in 2010, which resulted in the deaths of nine Turkish nationals.
Last week, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan threatened to dispatch Turkish warships to escort aid ships from his country to Gaza. On Friday it was reported that Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has decided to adopt a series of reciprocal measures in response to Turkey’s latest anti-Israeli moves.
On Sunday, however, it was reported that Turkey is toning down its overt hostility to the Jewish State, and Israel is maintaining a conciliatory stance in an effort to preserve its relationship with Turkey.
