Turkish President Ragep Tayyip Erdogan received Tuesday, December 27 the credentials of Israel’s new ambassador to Turkey as the two countries normalize relations after four years of tension.
Turkey and Israel have begun to improve relations with high-level visits during 2022, including a visit by Israeli occupation President Isaac Herzog to Ankara. In August, they agreed on a mutual appointment of ambassadors.
After Israeli Prime Minister-designate, Benjamin Netanyahu won the election last month, he and Erdogan agreed to “work together to create a new era in relations” based on respect for mutual interests.
Irit Lillian, a senior diplomat who played a key role in Israeli-Turkish reconciliation, has been Israel’s charge d’affaires in Ankara since February 2021, during which time both sides moved slowly but steadily toward restoring full diplomatic relations.
In May 2018, Turkey recalled its ambassador and asked the Israeli occupation envoy to leave in protest of Israel’s aggression on Gaza in which dozens of Palestinians were killed.
Relations between Israel and Turkey, once close regional allies, have been strained for more than a decade.
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