Patriot missile battery at the Turkish military base in Gaziantep. File photoTEL AVIV, Oct 27Israel and Turkey are resuming defense cooperation, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said at a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar during a working visit to Ankara.» We are grateful to Turkey for the life-saving (Israelis) vital cooperation. As previously agreed, I have instructed my staff to begin procedures to resume working relations,» Gantz said during a joint press conference following a meeting with his Turkish counterpart. The words of the Israeli minister were circulated by his press service. On Wednesday, Gantz began a working visit to Turkey, during which a meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is also planned. Earlier, the countries reappointed ambassadors and restored diplomatic relations. Relations between Israel and Turkey deteriorated sharply in 2010 after the incident with the capture by Israeli special forces of the Mavi Marmara ship that left Turkey for the Gaza Strip. In May 2018, Ankara invited the Israeli ambassador to Turkey to leave the country after protests in the Gaza Strip against the background of the 70th anniversary of the founding of Israel and the transfer of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, timed to coincide with the anniversary. Then 59 Palestinians were killed in clashes, more than 2.7 thousand were injured. -0-
Turkey appoints ambassador to Israel after restoration of diplomatic relations
