Israel Weighs Closing Istanbul Consulate Serving 15,000 Jews as Turkey Rift Deepens
Updated
Updated · Ynetnews · May 19
Israel Weighs Closing Istanbul Consulate Serving 15,000 Jews as Turkey Rift Deepens
2 articles · Updated · Ynetnews · May 19
Israel is weighing whether to shut its Istanbul consulate, though the Foreign Ministry said no decision has been made and the Ankara embassy would remain its only official mission in Turkey.
Both Israeli missions in Turkey have been unmanned since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, with diplomats relocated to Bulgaria and local staff working remotely, fueling debate over whether an empty post justifies its cost.
Istanbul’s roughly 15,000-strong Jewish community is a key factor, with critics warning closure would signal abandonment and be hard to reverse under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Security concerns have sharpened the review: a gunman fired near the consulate about 10 days ago without causing injuries, after an April attack in which one assailant was killed and two police officers were wounded.
Is Israel's potential consulate closure the final break in its turbulent relationship with Turkey?
With Israeli-Turkish diplomacy collapsing, which regional power is poised to fill the void?