A potential project to build a gas pipeline between Turkey and Israel is not feasible in the short term.

This was stated today by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and he made it clear that the creation of an alternative system to break the dependence on Russia will not happen immediately.

Turkey and Israel have been working in recent weeks to restore their long-strained relations and energy has emerged as a potential area of cooperation.

Turkish media reported today that President Tayyip Erdogan is “very, very optimistic” about energy cooperation with Israel and that he hopes to discuss the issue with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

“If we discuss this issue with Bennett after Ramadan and take immediate steps, the process of Israel-Turkey cooperation on crude oil and gas in the eastern Mediterranean will be accelerated,” Erdogan told reporters on board the aircraft while returning from his visit to Uzbekistan.

Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, starts on 2 April.

The two regional rivals expelled their ambassadors in 2018 and often cross swords over the Palestinian conflict, Turkey‘s support for Hamas, which runs Gaza, and other issues.

Speaking to A Haber network, Cavusoglu said he will travel to Israel and Palestine with Energy Minister Fatih Donmez in mid-May and will discuss the appointment of ambassadors with his Israeli counterpart during the visit.