JERUSALEM: Israel’s ambassador to Turkiye Irit Lillian on Tuesday presented her credentials to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the foreign ministry said, marking a new era after four years with the position unstaffed.

“A very emotional moment this afternoon as I presented my letter of credentials to the President,” Lillian, who had been serving as Israel’s charge d’affaires in Ankara, wrote on her Twitter account.

“Looking forward to many more positive developments in the bilateral relations”.

The ceremony at Erdogan’s presidential complex in Ankara marks the latest step in warming ties between Israel and Turkiye. Bilateral relations began to fray in 2008 following an Israeli military operation in Gaza.

Relations then froze in 2010 after the deaths of 10 civilians following an Israeli raid on the Turkish Mavi Marmara ship, part of a flotilla trying to breach a blockade by carrying aid into the Gaza enclave.

A brief reconciliation lasted from 2016 until 2018, when Turkiye withdrew its ambassador and expelled Israel’s over the killing of Palestinians during a conflict with Gaza.

Published in Dawn, December 28th, 2022