Turkey appointed an ambassador to Israel on the night of Friday November 11 to Saturday November 12 after a four-year vacancy, the last step in the full resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries announced in August.
Sakir Ozkan Torunlar was appointed to the post by presidential decree, according to Turkish media. He is an experienced diplomat who served as Turkish consul general in Jerusalem between 2010 and 2014.
After several months of warming, the two countries announced in August the complete restoration of their diplomatic relations and the return of the ambassadors. Israel had appointed an ambassador to Ankara in September.
Turkish President congratulates Binyamin Netanyahu
Relations between the two countries were strained in 2010 after the deadly assault by Israeli forces on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmarawhich was trying to deliver aid to Gaza, a Palestinian enclave under Israeli blockade and controlled by the Islamists of Hamas.
In May 2018, after the death of around fifty Palestinians killed by the Israeli army in Gaza, Turkey recalled its ambassador to Tel Aviv and dismissed the Israeli ambassador to Ankara as well as the Israeli consul general to Istanbul. Israel retaliated by sending the Turkish consul general back to Jerusalem.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also sent a letter of congratulations to Benyamin Netanyahu after his victory in the Israeli legislative elections on 1er November, the services of the former Israeli prime minister announced on Thursday. Mr. Erdogan, a fervent defender of the Palestinian cause, has in the past criticized Israeli policies towards the Palestinians carried out under the governments of Mr. Netanyahu (1996-1999 and 2009-2021).