Herzog Flies Commercial to Azerbaijan, Evading Turkish Flight Ban
Translated & summarized from Behadrei Haredim by baba
Israeli President Isaac Herzog bypassed Turkey's ban on Israeli government flights by traveling on a commercial Azerbaijan Airlines flight to Baku for a summit. The flight traversed Turkish airspace without issue on Wednesday, with Herzog's team preferring it over a longer, potentially less secure route. Turkey stated it was unaware of the president's presence on the civilian flight, as it does not vet passenger lists. President Erdogan reportedly skipped the summit, sending his foreign minister instead.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- President Isaac Herzog flew on a commercial flight to bypass Turkey's ban on Israeli government aircraft.
- Herzog traveled to Baku, Azerbaijan, for the CICA summit on a flight that crossed Turkish airspace.
- Turkey prohibits Israeli government planes but allows civilian flights, stating it doesn't vet passenger lists.
- Azerbaijan Airlines flight was named "Shusha," referencing a pact between Azerbaijan and Turkey.
- Turkish President Erdogan reportedly skipped the summit due to Herzog's attendance.
President Isaac Herzog of Israel circumvented Turkey's flight ban on Israeli government aircraft by traveling on a commercial flight operated by Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) to Baku, Azerbaijan's capital. The flight, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner on route J222 from Tel Aviv, passed through Turkish airspace without incident on Wednesday, according to Middle East Eye. Herzog's team opted for the commercial flight over a longer alternative route through Greece, Bulgaria, and the Black Sea, citing security concerns due to ongoing attacks on ships in the Black Sea region. The President's office declined to comment on the flight details.
Turkey has prohibited Israeli government planes from crossing its airspace since 2024, though it still permits civilian flights to and from Israel. An unnamed Turkish official told Middle East Eye that Azerbaijan did not inform Ankara of the Israeli president's presence on the commercial flight. The official explained that Turkey cannot vet the passenger lists of every civilian aircraft transiting its airspace, adding that Israel had stopped requesting transit permission, knowing Ankara's stance.
Hersog attended the CICA summit in Baku, where he met with President Ilham Aliyev. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was reportedly absent from the conference, possibly due to Herzog's attendance, sending Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan instead. The summit occurred during a sensitive period between Ankara and Baku, following Azerbaijan's recent decision to ban headscarves in elementary and middle schools.
Adding a layer of symbolic commentary, the Azerbaijani plane Herzog traveled on was named "Shusha," referencing a mutual defense pact signed by Turkey and Azerbaijan in 2021 after the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War. Observers interpreted the choice of this specific aircraft as another subtle jab from Baku towards Ankara.
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