Bennett thanks Turkiye for foiling attacks on Israelis in Istanbul

ANKARA (AA) – Israel’s prime minister on Tuesday thanked Türkiye’s president for Turkish intelligence’s efforts to thwart attacks on Israelis in Türkiye.

“I especially thank President (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan and his people for their cooperation in thwarting attacks on Israelis in Turkey,” Naftali Bennett wrote on Twitter.

Bennett also thanked both countries’ security efforts for foiling attacks on Israelis in Istanbul.

He said Israel is gradually returning to “routine” thanks to actions that “safeguarded human life” but he urged Israelis to still stay alert.

Israel lowers travel warning to Türkiye

Also on Tuesday, Israel’s National Security Council’s Counter-Terror Bureau lowered its travel warning to Istanbul from high to medium. The update applies to all of Türkiye.

But it urged Israelis to “avoid non-essential travel to Turkey.”

Last Thursday, on his visit to Türkiye, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid hailed Turkish intelligence for “foiling an Iranian plot in Istanbul” and said Israel appreciates the Turkish government for its “professional, coordinated activity.”

Lapid said Iran was behind the attempted terror attacks, underlining that Tehran’s attempt was a “clear violation of Turkish sovereignty.”

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stressed that Ankara was in cooperation with Tel Aviv in fighting terror and possible threats against Israeli citizens, noting that Türkiye will never allow terror attacks on its territory.

In recent months, Türkiye and Israel have accelerated efforts to mend ties.