Israeli Foreign Minister visits Ankara for the first time in 16 years

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara on June 23, 2022. AP - Burhan Ozbilici

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The head of Israeli diplomacy, Yaïr Lapid, was in Turkey on Thursday, where he was received by his counterpart Mevlüt Cavusoglu.

A visit against a backdrop of Turkish-Israeli rapprochement in recent months, but also of alleged threats to the safety of Israeli nationals in Turkey.

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With our correspondent in Istanbul,

For the first visit in 16 years of an Israeli diplomat to Turkey,

and his Turkish counterpart, Mevlüt Cavusoglu, displayed cordial, even warm handshakes.

The two ministers announced the upcoming return of the respective ambassadors.

Since 2018, the diplomatic representation in Ankara and Tel Aviv has been in the hands of business managers.

Although trade and energy issues were on the agenda, Yaïr Lapid and Mevlüt Cavusoglu mainly talked about security cooperation, against a backdrop of alleged Iranian threats against Israeli citizens.

For fear of Iranian attacks, Yaïr Lapid last week called

, in particular to Istanbul, and to leave the country “

” for those there.

Eight suspected members of an Iranian cell arrested

Yaïr Lapid thanked Turkey and its security services for preventing "

" on their soil.

Mevlüt Cavusoglu assured that cooperation against what he described as a “

” would continue, before adding: “

»

A few hours earlier, Turkish media had revealed the recent arrest of eight alleged members of an Iranian cell, ready to assassinate Israeli citizens in Istanbul.

"

," said the head of Turkish diplomacy.

A visit to Turkey by his Iranian counterpart has been postponed twice this month.

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