Turkey Snubs Israel at COP31, But Israeli Climate Expert Says Jerusalem Chose Not to Attend
Turkey's exclusion of Israeli leaders from the COP31 climate summit sparks controversy, but a former Israeli lawmaker says Israel is largely to blame for its absence.
The UN climate conference is underway in Antalya, where representatives from around the world have gathered to address climate change.
Turkish Environment Minister and COP31 President Murat Kurum confirmed that Ankara deliberately withheld an invitation from Israel's government to the Leaders' Summit, citing the war in Gaza.
"As the host country, we did not send an invitation to Israel," Kurum said, adding that "there can be no climate justice where peace does not prevail."
However, Kurum clarified that Turkey's decision applied specifically to the Leaders' Summit, not the wider UN climate negotiations.
"Every country has the right to participate here under the auspices of the United Nations to present its negotiations, views, statements and projects," he said, adding that invitations to UN-organized events are extended to all countries.
Speaking on i24NEWS' Middle East Now, Professor Alon Tal, a public policy professor at Tel Aviv University and former chair of the Knesset Subcommittee on Environment, Climate and Public Health, challenged the suggestion that Turkey had prevented Israel from attending.
"Israel could certainly have attended the COP31 climate conference, but it chose not to," Tal said.
"Turkey does not have the authority to disqualify Israel from participating in a conference when we are full members of this treaty and could have attended, but chose not to."
Tal argued that Israel has increasingly disengaged from international climate diplomacy in recent years, pointing to its failure to submit an updated national climate action plan, known as an NDC, last year.
He also criticized Ankara's attempt to politicize the gathering, arguing that Israel's expertise in food technology, renewable energy and climate innovation could benefit international efforts.
"Israel should be there. And Israel has much to contribute," Tal said.
Despite his criticism of Turkey, Tal maintained that responsibility also rests with Israel's government.
"Israel is part of the international community and we cannot have a situation where nations are excluded," he said, warning that political disagreements should not undermine global cooperation against climate change.
Tal expressed hope that Israel would return to a more active role at future climate conferences, describing climate change as "perhaps the single greatest existential threat threatening humanity today."