The embassy is empty - but the envoy arrived: Israel's unusual move in Turkey

Israeli diplomat Yoel Leon arrived in Ankara and presented his accreditation as the charge d'affaires of Israel's relations in Turkey, in the first visit by an Israeli official to the country since the outbreak of the war. The embassy remains closed due to security concerns, and the visit takes place against a backdrop of strained relations and growing tensions over the Syrian arena.

Israeli diplomat Yoel Leon, appointed by the Foreign Ministry to serve as the charge d'affaires of Israel's relations in Turkey, arrived today (Wednesday) at the Turkish Foreign Ministry in Ankara and presented his accreditation. The visit is the first by an Israeli official to the country since the outbreak of the war. The Israeli embassy remains effectively closed due to security concerns and is maintained only by local employees. Leon's appointment follows the departure of Ambassador Irit Lilian earlier this year. The backdrop to the visit is an unprecedented low in Jerusalem-Ankara relations, which worsened following the Hamas terror attack in October 2023 and the Gaza war. Turkey has adopted a harsh rhetorical line against Israel, accusing it of genocide, and imposed commercial sanctions and an export boycott. The diplomatic conflict has also spilled over into the Syrian arena, with reports of Israeli strikes against the Abu al-Duhur air base in northern Syria, about 70 km from the Turkish border, after Turkey prepared to deploy air defense systems there. Ankara pins hopes on the elections in Israel this coming October, but an Israeli source clarified that the main obstacle to restoring relations remains the incitement campaign against Israel in Turkish media.