Israeli Defense Minister visits Muslim ally, bordering Iran

The visit follows the reported thwarting by Azerbaijani security forces of a planned attack on a foreign embassy thought to be Israel’s.

By Ben Rappaport, United with Israel

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant left for an official visit to Azerbaijan, a country that borders Iran.

During the visit, Gallant is to meet with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, his Azerbaijani counterpart General Zakir Hasanov, the Commander of the National Border Guard General Elchin Guliyev, and other security officials.

Gallant is expected to be received at defense ministry headquarters in Baku with an honor guard, during which Israel’s national anthem “Hatikva” is to be played.

“The goal of the visit to Azerbaijan is to strengthen the strategic relations between the countries, tighten the political cooperation and expand the security-technological ties between the two countries,” the ministry said in a statement.

“In his meetings, the Defense Minister is expected to discuss with his colleagues the ways to strengthen regional stability,” the ministry added.

The visit comes amid a period of strengthening relations between Israel and Azerbaijan, which borders Iran.

In March, Azerbaijan became the first Shiite Muslim country to post an ambassador and open an embassy in Israel. The move was followed in April by a visit to Azerbaijan by Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, and a visit to the country in May by Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

Israel has operated an embassy in Baku since 1993 and was one of the first countries to recognize Azerbaijani independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

On Monday, Azerbaijani security services said they had thwarted an attack on a foreign embassy in the country. Though left unnamed, Azerbaijani media noted footage showed the suspect had been surveilling the area of the Israeli embassy.

“It was established that this foreign national arrived to the Republic of Azerbaijan from a foreign country with the intention of committing the above mentioned criminal acts and in order to identify the coordinates of a third country embassy and plan a terroristic act,” the State Security Service said.

The suspect “conducted a surveillance of the embassy building, attempted to identify and enroll individuals to participate in the terrorist act, obtained firearms and explosives, and conspired with other persons to receive financial support for this activity,” the statement added.