Israel appoints Turkiye envoy in signs of warming ties

JERUSALEM－Israel announced the appointment of a new ambassador to Turkiye on Monday, the latest sign of warming relations between the two countries following more than a decadelong rift.

Irit Lillian, a senior diplomat who has been in charge of the Israeli embassy in Ankara for the last two years, will serve as the ambassador, Israel's Foreign Ministry announced.

She is the first person to hold the post since 2018.

Israel and Turkiye agreed in August to reinstate full diplomatic ties after years of tensions.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu earlier said talks on the subject started after a new Israeli government took office last year.

In May, Cavusoglu became the first Turkish foreign minister to visit Israel in 15 years.

Relations between the two countries became strained in 2010 when a Turkish-led flotilla attempting to break Israel's blockade on the Gaza Strip clashed with Israeli forces, leaving 10 Turks dead.

In 2018, Turkiye and Israel expelled each other's top diplomats amid tensions over the Israeli killing of 60 Palestinians during protests against the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem.

The countries have been working to mend ties over the past months, including a visit by Israeli President Isaac Herzog to Turkiye in March, the first visit by a senior Israeli official since 2008. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the visit by Herzog as "a turning point in our relations".

Talks have also been held on piping natural gas from Israel to Europe via Turkiye.

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Erdogan had a phone discussion in August after the two countries announced the move to reinstate ambassadors.

During the call, Erdogan hailed the progress of Turkiye-Israel relations within the framework agreed upon during Herzog's visit and that of Lapid's to Ankara, the Turkish presidency said in a statement.

Erdogan said he supports the development of cooperation and dialogue between Israel and Turkiye on a sustainable basis of mutual respect, and Turkiye would take immediate steps to appoint an ambassador to Israel.

Lapid was expected to meet Erdogan on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, Agence France-Presse reported.

Agencies - Xinhua