Turkish, Israeli presidents discuss bilateral, regional issues

By Mehmet Tosun

ANKARA (AA) – Israeli President Isaac Herzog called Türkiye’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday to extend greetings ahead of this weekend’s Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha.

The two leaders also exchanged views on bilateral and regional issues, according to a statement by the Turkish Communications Directorate.

Ankara and Tel Aviv have recently ramped up efforts to mend ties fractured since 2010, when Israeli forces stormed a Gaza-bound flotilla carrying humanitarian aid for Palestinians. Nine Turkish activists were killed in the incident.

Herzog met Erdogan in Türkiye in March, while the foreign ministers of the two countries have also made reciprocal visits this year and started efforts to upgrade their diplomatic representation.