New Turkish ambassador resumes office in Israel after 5-year hiatus

Sakir Ozkan Torunlar, Turkey’s new ambassador to Israel who was the first assignment to the post since 2018, has presented his credentials to Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday.

“Today we complete another important step, reaching another milestone in the strengthening of our relations and deepening of the friendship between Turkey and Israel,” Herzog said following the ceremony held in Jerusalem, AFP reported.

Turkey and Israel are making efforts to mend relations that was deeply fractured more than a decade, over a string of disputed issues, including Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians and Turkey’s close ties with Hamas which is designated as a terrorist organisation by Israel and the United States.

In August, the two governments decided to restore full diplomatic relations and reappoint ambassadors. In October, Ankara named Torunlar as its envoy, a first assignment to the post since May 2018, when Turkey expelled Israel’s ambassador and recalled its own envoy in Tel-Aviv over Israeli attacks on the Palestinians in Gaza.

Ties are now “on a very encouraging trajectory,” Herzog said.

Last month, Israel’s new ambassador to Turkey, Irit Lillian, also presented her credentials to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.