Palestine-Azerbaijan: A Complex Relationship Of Mutual Support

Azerbaijan and Palestine have had official diplomatic relations since 1992, with Palestine opening an embassy in Baku in 2011. Despite Azerbaijan being one of Israel's closest allies, it maintains a close and productive relationship with Palestine. Both countries have supported each other's territorial integrity and Palestine has supported Azerbaijan's position in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Azerbaijan has also provided financial aid to Palestine and supported the establishment of a Palestinian state. However, Azerbaijan has had to walk a fine line in its relations with Israel and Palestine, as its closest ally, Turkey, has traditionally backed Palestine.

Palestine and Azerbaijan's diplomatic relations

Palestine and Azerbaijan established diplomatic relations in 1992, with Palestine opening an embassy in Baku in 2011. Azerbaijan does not have an embassy in Palestine. Despite Azerbaijan being one of the closest Muslim nations to Israel, it maintains a close and productive relationship with Palestine.

In 2009, Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki visited Azerbaijan and emphasised the importance of cooperation between the two countries in their shared goal of restoring territorial integrity. In 2018, al-Maliki reiterated the Palestinian state's support for Azerbaijan's position in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, affirming its commitment to international law.

Azerbaijan has hosted meetings of ambassadors of the State of Palestine in Asia, and many Palestinian students attend Azerbaijani universities.

In 2023, during the conflict between Israel and Palestine, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry condemned the violence against civilians and called for de-escalation. While Azerbaijan has not openly supported either side, polls suggest that a majority of Azerbaijanis support Israel. This is attributed to various factors, including Israel's support for Azerbaijan in its struggle for territorial integrity, military and economic collaboration, and the presence of a historic Jewish community in Azerbaijan.

Despite Azerbaijan's close ties with Israel, Palestine and Azerbaijan continue to maintain diplomatic relations and cooperate on issues of mutual interest, such as territorial integrity and international law.

Azerbaijan's support for Palestine's statehood

Azerbaijan has been described as one of the closest Muslim countries to Israel, and therefore not a steadfast supporter of Palestine. However, Azerbaijan has maintained a close and productive relationship with Palestine since the two countries established relations and recognised each other in 1992.

In 2009, the Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki visited Azerbaijan and said that both countries were working to restore their territorial integrity, and so must cooperate closely within international organisations. In 2011, Palestine opened an embassy in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. In April 2018, al-Maliki reiterated his support for Azerbaijan's position in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and its settlement within international law.

Azerbaijan has supported Palestine's statehood in other ways, too. In 2023, Azerbaijan was represented at the latest Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting, along with 21 other Muslim countries, and supported initiatives aimed at supporting Palestine's struggle for statehood. Azerbaijan has also hosted meetings of ambassadors of the State of Palestine in Asian countries.

In the context of the long-standing Israel-Palestine conflict, Baku has supported the UN decision of 1947, according to which a Palestinian state should be established alongside a Jewish state. This is in line with Azerbaijan's advocacy for compliance with international law and respect for the decisions of the UN Security Council.

At the same time, Azerbaijan has also been strengthening its relationship with Israel. In 2023, the Israeli President Isaac Herzog met with the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku, and Azerbaijan opened an embassy in Israel.

Azerbaijan's stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict

Diplomatic Recognition and Relations

Azerbaijan and Palestine established official diplomatic relations in 1992, and Palestine opened an embassy in Baku, Azerbaijan's capital, in 2011. Azerbaijan does not have an embassy in Palestine. Despite this, both countries have productive relations, with cooperation in various areas such as education, as many Palestinian students study in Azerbaijani universities.

Support for Palestine's Statehood

Azerbaijan has consistently supported Palestine's right to statehood and a two-state solution to the conflict. At meetings of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and other international organisations, Azerbaijan has advocated for Palestine's territorial integrity and supported initiatives for Palestinian statehood. Additionally, Azerbaijan has provided humanitarian assistance to Palestine, including financial aid and projects like building a school for Palestinian children.

Balancing Act with Israel

Azerbaijan also has a close relationship with Israel, which is considered one of its key allies. This relationship is based on mutual interests, such as military and economic cooperation, and a shared distrust of Iran. Israel has supplied Azerbaijan with significant amounts of weaponry, which played a crucial role in Azerbaijan's conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan also meets a large portion of Israel's crude oil demand.

Domestic Sentiments and Public Opinion

Public opinion in Azerbaijan regarding the conflict is varied. While the country is predominantly Muslim, with around 90% of the population identifying as such, expressions of solidarity with Palestine have been limited. During the 2023 Israel-Palestine conflict, online polls suggested that almost two-thirds of Azerbaijanis supported Israel. However, there have been pro-Palestinian protests and criticism of the Azerbaijani government's dealings with Israel, particularly from religious authorities and the Shia community. The Azerbaijani authorities have generally maintained a neutral stance, condemning violence and calling for de-escalation without directly criticising either side.

Palestine's support for Azerbaijan in the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict

Palestine and Azerbaijan established relations in 1992, with Palestine opening an embassy in Baku in 2011. While Azerbaijan is considered one of the closest Muslim countries to Israel, it maintains a close and productive relationship with Palestine. Both countries have a majority Muslim population and are members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

In 2009, Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki, during a visit to Azerbaijan, highlighted the similarities in the countries' situations, stating that both nations were working to restore their territorial integrity and must therefore cooperate closely within international organizations.

In April 2018, al-Maliki reiterated Palestine's support for Azerbaijan in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, stating that Palestine supported a settlement within international law. This support was expressed during a period of heightened conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, with Armenia recalling its ambassador to Israel in 2020 due to Israeli arms supply to Azerbaijan.

In addition to diplomatic ties, there are educational links between the two countries, with many Palestinian students studying in Azerbaijani universities.

However, it is important to note that Palestine also has relations with Armenia, with both countries formalizing diplomatic relations in 2024. Despite Palestine's support for Azerbaijan, the Palestinian Authority and its ruling party, Fatah, have been accused of expressing support for Armenia-backed groups such as Hezbollah.

The impact of Azerbaijan-Israel relations on Palestine

Azerbaijan and Israel have strong relations, with Israel being one of Azerbaijan's closest allies. The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992, and Israel was one of the first countries to recognise Azerbaijan's independence. Since then, the two countries have engaged in extensive military, economic, and political cooperation. Israel has been a major supplier of weapons to Azerbaijan, and the countries have collaborated in the energy sector, with Israel buying 40% of its oil from Azerbaijan as of 2016.

Azerbaijan, however, also has diplomatic relations with Palestine, established in the same year as those with Israel. Palestine has an embassy in Baku, and the two countries have a close and productive relationship. Azerbaijan has supported Palestine's territorial integrity and has advocated for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

The impact of Azerbaijan's strong relations with Israel on Palestine is complex. On the one hand, Azerbaijan's support for Israel could be seen as a blow to Palestine, as it is one of the few Muslim-majority countries with close ties to Israel. This could potentially weaken the position of Palestine in the Israel-Palestine conflict and reduce its support from other Muslim-majority nations. Additionally, Azerbaijan's strong military and economic ties with Israel could potentially be used against Palestine, either directly or indirectly.

On the other hand, Azerbaijan has maintained a balanced approach and has not openly supported either side in the Israel-Palestine conflict. Official Baku has condemned violence against civilians and called for de-escalation. Azerbaijan has also provided financial assistance to Palestine and supported its territorial integrity within the framework of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Overall, while Azerbaijan's relations with Israel could potentially impact Palestine negatively, Azerbaijan has also taken steps to support Palestine and maintain a neutral stance in the conflict. The complex dynamics of the region, including the involvement of other actors such as Turkey and Iran, further complicate the situation. The impact of Azerbaijan-Israel relations on Palestine is, therefore, multifaceted and subject to ongoing geopolitical shifts.

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