Israel and Turkey are expanding bilateral airline traffic under a new aviation deal signed on Thursday, their first since 1951, the Israeli prime minister’s office said.
The agreement comes as Turkey and Israel have been trying to turn a new page, working to restore diplomatic ties that have been strained for more than a decade.
The new period was marked by the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog and his meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara in March.
The aviation agreement is expected to result in the resumption of flights by Israeli companies to a variety of destinations in Turkey, alongside flights by Turkish companies to Israel.
“Today’s initialing by the directors of the two countries’ civil aviation authorities was made possible thanks to open and constructive negotiations in recent weeks and constitutes an important milestone in advancing bilateral relations,” a statement by the prime minister’s office said.
The deal is part of the decision to expand and develop bilateral relations made during meetings between Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu in Israel and Ankara, it added.
“Aviation relations are a strategic tool for Israel’s economic development and of particular importance toward Israel's regional position,” Israeli Transport Minister Merav Michaeli said.
Turkey is known as being one of the most popular destinations for Israeli tourists.
Israel last week lowered its travel warning for Istanbul and thanked Ankara for Turkish intelligence's efforts to thwart attacks on Israelis in the country.
It had earlier urged its citizens to leave the Turkish metropolis following reports of an Iranian plot to carry out an attack against Israeli and Jewish targets.
Turkey and Israel withdrew their respective ambassadors in 2010 after Israeli forces stormed a Gaza-bound flotilla carrying humanitarian aid for Palestinians that broke an Israeli blockade. The incident resulted in the deaths of nine Turkish activists.
Relations broke down again in 2018 when Turkey, angered by the United States moving its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, once more recalled its ambassador, prompting Israel to respond in kind.
The two countries have begun work on restoring their mutual diplomatic representation to the ambassador level, Çavuşoğlu said last month.
Israel will reopen its economic and trade office in Turkey, its economy minister said Tuesday.
“The reopening of the economic attache reflects Israel’s commitment to deepening economic ties with Turkey,” Economy Minister Orna Barbivai said.
“We intend to soon promote a joint economic conference between the countries, after more than a decade.”
The move will help more than 1,500 Israeli companies that are currently exporting to Turkey.
