Israel lowers travel warning to Turkey as Bennet thanks Erdoğan for 'foiling Iran's attacks'

Israel's prime minister has thanked President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for Turkey's efforts to thwart attacks on citizens of Israel on its soil.

"I especially thank President Erdoğan and his people for their cooperation in thwarting attacks on Israelis in Turkey," Naftali Bennett wrote on Twitter yesterday (June 28).

Bennett also thanked both countries' security efforts for foiling attacks on Israelis in İstanbul.

He said Israel is gradually returning to "routine" thanks to actions that "were successful and safeguarded human life" but he urged Israelis to still stay alert.

Travel warning to Turkey

Also yesterday, 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 Turkey.

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

Last Thursday, on his visit to Turkey, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid praised Turkey's intelligence for "foiling an Iranian plot in Istanbul."

He said Iran was behind the attempted terror attacks, underlining that Tehran's attempt was a "clear violation of Turkish sovereignty."

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

In recent months, Turkey and Israel have accelerated efforts to mend ties. (VK)