Herzog Bypasses Turkish Ban via Commercial Flight for Baku Summit
Israeli President Isaac Herzog used a commercial flight through Turkish airspace to reach the CICA summit in Baku, bypassing government flight bans while regional representatives gathered.
President Isaac Herzog arrived in Baku, Azerbaijan, for a day-and-half visit to attend the CICA summit, bypassing a Turkish ban on Israeli government aircraft by using a commercial flight. Traveling aboard an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) Boeing 787 Dreamliner named Shusha, Herzog crossed Turkish airspace without prior notification to Ankara, according to Middle East Eye reports. The alternative route over the Black Sea was deemed hazardous due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The CICA Summit and Regional Diplomacy
The Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) summit brings together representatives from several countries lacking diplomatic ties with Israel, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, and Indonesia. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan skipped the event, sending Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan instead. The geopolitical backdrop includes a sensitive moment in Ankara-Baku relations following Azerbaijan's recent ban on hijabs in primary and middle schools, while the naming of the aircraft added further symbolic tension.
Voting Abroad and Herzog's Call for Unity
This is a very important moment in my diplomatic visit here in Azerbaijan. I am privileged to see how the election process begins and how elections actually take place at Israel's missions abroad — here at the embassy in Baku, President Isaac Herzog stated.
During his stay, Herzog visited the Israeli embassy in Baku to observe the opening of voting for Israeli citizens living abroad. Emphasizing the significance of the upcoming Knesset elections on October 27, 2026, the president urged citizens to exercise their democratic right, stressing that elections represent a path forward rather than civil conflict.
