While noting that the agreement of cooperation was signed between the foreign ministries of the two countries in 2008, the embassy said in its written statement the first such visit by young Turkish diplomats to Israel occurred in November 2008.
“The purpose of the agreement and the reciprocal visits is to deepen the ties between the foreign ministries of Turkey and Israel and to contribute to a better mutual relationship considering the challenges faced by both foreign ministries and countries,” said the statement.
Relations between Turkey and Israel, regional allies who cooperate particularly in the military and defense arena, became strained after the Israeli military launched a deadly offensive in Gaza last December, leaving more than 1,300 people dead.
The tension has continued to simmer since Turkey barred Israel from a NATO exercise last month, a decision that angered Israel.
Yet the announcement of an official visit to Turkey by Israeli Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer later this month and Israeli President Shimon Peres’ invitation to his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gül, to pay an official visit to Israel as well as statements by Turkish leaders stating the strength of the core of bilateral relations have been interpreted as signs of both sides’ willingness to ease recent tensions between the two countries.
