Turkish citizen appointed to manage Jerusalem Arbitration Center

Turkish citizen Osman Zeki Yalç?n has been appointed as director-general of the Jerusalem Arbitration Center (JAC), joining JAC co-chair Rifat Hisarc?kl?o?lu, who is also the head of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB).
 
"The appointment has been made upon both sides' willingness. The idea of appointing a Turkish citizen as director general was embraced. This arbitration center will become the sole place where Israel and Palestine gather officially," Hisarc?kl?o?lu said.

"Commerce is necessary for peace and peace is necessary for commerce. This office will be a center for the resolution of commercial disputes and will make a contribution to the region," he added.

Yalç?n most recently worked as an advisor at Ankara-based think-tank the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV), after working in both the public and private sectors. Yalç?n last week travelled to Israel in order to take over the management of JAC, and he will live in Tel Aviv with his family. 

Back in March 2013, JAC stakeholders jointly proposed the selection of Hisarc?kl?o?lu, who is also a board member of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), to co-chair the JAC with ICC Israeli and Palestinian representatives.

The JAC has been operating since early 2013. Owned by ICC Palestine and ICC Israel based on a joint venture agreement, it is aimed at providing a credible legal framework to serve Palestinian and Israeli businesses in their commercial disputes. The ICC and the International Court of Arbitration provides training for and advice in support for the development and operations of the JAC.

At the time, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who was acting as a special envoy for the Quartet on the...