Turkey thanked Israel for its stance during this past weekend’s failed coup attempt and will continue with the process of normalizing ties, a senior Israeli official said Sunday following talks with a Turkish counterpart.
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The Israeli official said an unnamed senior Turkish figure voiced Turkey’s appreciation for Israel’s “messages” during the uncertain hours of the attempt.
Turkish authorities crushed the putsch bid by discontented soldiers in a chaotic night of violence Friday and early Saturday that left at least 290 people dead.
Israel warned its citizens against traveling to Turkey after news of the coup attempt emerged on Friday as Turkish soldiers took to the streets and tanks encircled parliament.
After the overthrow appeared to sputter, the Israeli Foreign Ministry voiced support for the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“Israel respects the democratic process in Turkey and looks forward to the continuation of the reconciliation process between Turkey and Israel,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon on Saturday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday indicated that reconciliation efforts with Ankara would not be derailed by the bloody failed military coup.
“Israel and Turkey agreed on reconciliation, and we assume that this process will continue regardless of events over the weekend,” said Netanyahu at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting.
Israel signed a deal last month to restore ties that were frozen after a deadly IDF raid on a Gaza-bound Turkish ship in 2010.
World leaders, including US President Barack Obama, have strongly condemned Friday’s attempted takeover by an army faction, but there is also alarm over the retaliatory purges, especially after pictures emerged showing the rough treatment of some suspects.
Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said around 6,000 people had been detained in “clean-up operations” and warned that the number would rise.