Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett contacted Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday after Turkey released a couple of Israelis arrested for allegedly photographing Erdogan’s residence in Istanbul for Istanbul.
Bennett thanked Erdogan for his help in securing the couple’s release, Bennett’s office said in a statement.
It was the first conversation between the Israeli prime minister and the Turkish president since 2013, according to Bennett’s office.
Earlier, Turkish authorities released an Israeli couple they had arrested and charged with espionage for allegedly photographing the residence of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a trip to Istanbul, the prime minister and foreign minister said today.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has denied allegations that the couple, Mordy and Natalie Oknin, were involved in espionage, saying they did not work for any Israeli government agency. The government has sent a high-ranking official to Turkey to help secure the couple’s release.
“After joint efforts with Turkey, Mordy and Natalie Okin were released from prison and are returning home to Israel,” Bennett and Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said in a joint news release.
“We thank the President of Turkey and his government for their cooperation and we look forward to welcoming the couple home,” they added.
A Turkish court has ordered the couple’s pre-trial detention on November 12, accusing them of espionage for taking pictures of Mr Erdogan’s residence from the λιamlitze Tower, a telecommunications facility where observatories are located, according to the Turkish state news agency.
According to the agency, an official called the police when he saw the couple photographing the residence of the head of state from a restaurant operating in Tsamlitze.
According to the agency, a Turkish national who was with the couple was also arrested; he was charged with political and military espionage. It is not clear whether he was to be released or not.
.
Source From: Capital
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
