Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said the threat against Israelis in Turkey exists, while the office of Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid announced Sunday that he intends to travel to Turkey this week for a visit that comes after months of improved relations between the two countries.
"We hope that this threat will soon be removed, and we are working to prepare our capabilities to respond when necessary," Gantz added. He suggested that the Iranians not take any steps in this regard.
He stressed that he is communicating with relevant Turkish institutions regarding Iranian threats against our citizens.
In the same context, the office of Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said today, Sunday, that he intends to go to Turkey this week for a visit that comes after months of improved relations between the two countries, but also in the wake of recent concerns expressed by Israel that its citizens may be vulnerable to attacks by it. Iranian agents in the NATO member country.
The statement said that Lapid will meet during his visit next Thursday with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu, who visited Israel last month to enhance economic cooperation between the two countries.
Israel warned its citizens against traveling to Turkey, citing its fear of Iran plotting assassinations or kidnappings after it vowed to avenge the assassination of a colonel in the Revolutionary Guards in Tehran on May 22, for which it blamed Israeli agents.
Iran has not commented on the Israeli travel advisory, which is currently focused on Istanbul in particular.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry alluded to the warning in a June 13 statement without naming any country, and said Turkey was a safe country that was taking all necessary security measures "within the framework of cooperation mechanisms in relation to combating terrorism."
A meeting in Ankara between Erdogan and Herzog last March (European)
Herzog thanks Erdogan
In the same context, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed with his Israeli counterpart, Isaac Herzog, relations between the two countries and regional issues.
Presidents Erdogan and Herzog agreed to continue dialogue on relations between the two countries and the region, including combating terrorism and security, as well as continuing cooperation to consolidate peace and stability, according to a statement published by the Turkish Presidency Communication Department.
A statement issued by Herzog's office said that the two sides stressed, during a telephone conversation, the importance of joint cooperation to build confidence.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for Turkey's efforts to thwart the implementation of what he described as terrorist operations against Israeli targets on Turkish soil.
The statement added that Herzog stressed the need to continue work to prevent the implementation of operations against Israelis, noting that threats to carry out operations against Israeli targets in Turkey still exist.
The statement said the two sides agreed to continue cooperation for peace and stability in the region.