Israel's Ambassador to Türkiye Irit Lillian on Tuesday presented her credentials to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, marking a new era after four years with the position unstaffed.
"A very emotional moment this afternoon as I presented my letter of credentials to the president," Lillian, who had been serving as Israel's charge d'affaires in Ankara, wrote on her Twitter account.
"Looking forward to many more positive developments in the bilateral relations".
The ceremony at the Presidential Complex in the capital Ankara marks the latest step in warming ties between Israel and Türkiye.
Once close regional allies, relations between Israel and Türkiye have been strained for more than a decade, with Ankara having expelled Israel's ambassador following a 2010 Israeli raid on an aid ship to Gaza, which killed 10 Turkish citizens.
Bilateral relations began to fray in 2008 following an Israeli military operation in Gaza.
Relations then froze in 2010 after the deaths of 10 civilians following an Israeli raid on the Turkish Mavi Marmara ship, part of a flotilla trying to breach a blockade by carrying aid into the Gaza enclave.
A brief reconciliation lasted from 2016 until 2018, when Türkiye withdrew its ambassador and expelled Israel's over the killing of Palestinians during a conflict with Gaza.
Türkiye and Israel began improving relations with high-level visits this year including Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit to Ankara.
Following months of diplomatic warming, Israel and Türkiye announced in August the full restoration of relations and the return of ambassadors to both countries.
Türkiye, too, has appointed an ambassador to Israel. A presidential decree in November named Şakir Özkan Torunlar to the post, Turkish media reported at the time.
He is expected to present his credentials to Israeli President Herzog "soon," according to the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
Despite past tensions between the two, Erdoğan last month congratulated Benjamin Netanyahu on his victory in the general election.
The two leaders agreed to "work together to create a new era in relations" on a basis of respect for mutual interests.
Netanyahu, whose second term in office ran from 2009 to 2021, was due to swear in his new government on Thursday.
As Tel Aviv's ambassador assumed her duties in Ankara on Tuesday, the Israeli president said he is "looking forward to" receiving the credentials of the Turkish ambassador soon.
"So moving to hear HaTikvah at the Presidential Complex in Ankara again, as Ambassador Irit Lillian presented her credentials to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan today," Herzog said on Twitter.
"Looking forward to receiving the Turkish ambassador's credentials soon. A big step forward for Israel-Türkiye relations," he added.
Herzog wrote his message in Hebrew and Turkish.
