Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been offering in recent months to mend relations and exchange ambassadors with Israel. Meanwhile, his government was busy helping convicted terrorist conspirator Sami al Arian organize an Istanbul symposium dedicated to delegitimizing the Jewish state. For as long as Erdogan remains a leading patron of violent antisemitism, he should not expect his calls for a rapprochement to convince his counterparts in Jerusalem.

The conference in question, “Challenging Apartheid in Palestine, Reclaiming the Narrative, Formulating a Vision,” took place at the Center for Islam and Global Affairs at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University between June 18 and June 23. The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism co-sponsored the event. Additionally, Erdogan’s son Bilal, who is the chairman of the board of trustees of the Islamist-rooted foundation that established IZU, spoke at the conference.