Turkish, Israeli presidents hold phone talk on ties, regional issues

Ankara [Turkey], July 8: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday held a phone talk with his Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog to discuss bilateral ties and regional issues, the Turkish presidency said in a statement.
Erdogan, who received Eid al-Adha greetings from Herzog, wished the blessed Eid days "would bring peace and tranquility for both countries, the region, and the whole world," the statement said.
The two presidents also agreed to take concrete steps forward in bilateral relations based on respect for "mutual sensitivities" and a positive agenda, it added.
Earlier on Thursday, Israel announced that, under a new bilateral civil aviation agreement, Israeli airlines are ready to resume flights to Turkey after a 15-year suspension.
Israel is also prepared to open its economic and trade office in Turkey on Aug. 1, in an effort to normalize ties with Turkey after more than a decade of enmity.
The relations between the two countries were strained in 2010 when a Turkish-led flotilla attempting to break Israel's blockade on the Gaza Strip clashed with Israeli forces, leaving 10 Turks on board killed.
In 2018, Turkey expelled the Israeli ambassador after Israeli forces killed Palestinians during protests on the Gaza border against the opening of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem.
Turkey and Israel have been working to mend their ties after years of enmity in the recent months, starting with Herzog's state visit to Turkey in early March.
Source: Xinhua