Dr. Oz Praises PM Netanyahu’s ‘Passion’ for Israel-Turkey Relations

AUGUST 1, 2013 12:16 PM

Author: Joshua Levitt

Dr. Mehmet Oz, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo: Photo by Kobi Gideon / GPO.

Television personality, medical doctor and Turk Dr. Mehmet Oz praised Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s commitment to Israel-Turkey relations in a meeting Thursday in Jerusalem.

“I was encouraged by how passionate the Prime Minister was about Israeli-Turkish relations and how insightful he was about the need for these two countries to become closer allies,” Oz said.

Dr. Oz said of Netanyahu that ” he has a true heartfelt affinity and deep respect for Turkey.”

Weighing on on the importance of the relationship between the two countries the puular prime time doctor said, “Working together, Israel and Turkey can help stabilize the Middle East and build bridges towards prosperity.”

Oz thanked Rabbi Shmuley Boteach who arranged the tour, and Israel’s new Ambassador to the United States, Ron Dermer, for organizing the meeting with Netanyahu.

Dr. Oz has been in Israel since early this week on the tour, his first time in the country, with Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, and their families.

“Our meeting today with Prime Minister Netanyahu and the substantive conversation on Israel, Turkey, and the Middle East, made Dr. Oz’s trip to Israel not just inspirational but unforgettable,” Rabbi Boteach said. “What made it even more special was me and Mehmet being joined in the meeting by Ron Dermer, Israel’s newly appointed Ambassador to the United States, who is my dear friend of twenty years and my former student at Oxford.”

The pair also participated in a Jerusalem panel discussion on Jewish values that also included Jewish Agency chairman Natan Sharansky.