Uncertainty persists regarding the level at which Israel will participate in the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which will be held in Antalya.
According to a report by Batu Bozkürk from Cumhuriyet, it is stated that no invitations have been sent from Turkey to Israeli leaders and that no leader-level participation from Israel is expected at the summit. It is also assessed that Israel's climate delegation may not come to Antalya due to security concerns.
COP31 will be held in Antalya between November 9 and 20. COP31 President Murat Kurum stated in his remarks last week that 196 countries and approximately 300 ministers would attend the summit, and that 91 heads of state had confirmed their participation.
WHY IS ISRAEL'S PARTICIPATION ON THE AGENDA?
Because the organization is held under the umbrella of the United Nations, it is noted that it is technically possible for Israel's climate delegation to participate in the negotiations. However, according to sources reached, this participation is also not expected to take place due to security reasons.
Since the resumption of the Gaza war on October 7, 2023, and the issuance of an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by the International Criminal Court on November 21, 2024, Israel has been represented in international platforms mostly by President Isaac Herzog.
Herzog's participation in the CICA Summit held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, last month had also become a topic of discussion in Turkey. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan had left the hall during Herzog's speech. It was stated that Herzog, who is normally not permitted to fly through Turkish airspace, traveled to Baku via Turkey on a scheduled Azerbaijan Airlines flight.
It is known that Israeli sports clubs have also not been coming to Turkey recently, and that matches they play against Turkish teams are held in other countries due to security concerns. The fact that Beşiktaş and Hapoel Beer-Sheva will face each other in Georgia on November 26 will be one of the new examples of this practice.
News Source: 12punto
