Jerusalem - (AFP) - The Turkish ambassador to Israel, Cakir Ozkan Turunlar, presented his credentials on Wednesday to President Isaac Herzog, according to the Israeli presidency, in the latest step after the restoration of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

"Today we complete an important step, we reach another important milestone in strengthening our relations and deepening friendship between Turkey and Israel," Herzog said after a ceremony at his residence in Jerusalem, according to a statement.

In 2008, relations between the two countries deteriorated after an Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip. In 2010, relations were frozen following the killing of ten civilians in an Israeli raid on the Turkish aid ship "Marmara", which was part of a flotilla that tried to breach the Israeli blockade imposed on the Strip.

The relationship between the two countries returned to witness reconciliation between 2016 and 2018, but Turkey soon withdrew its ambassador and expelled his Israeli counterpart, as well as the Consul General in Istanbul, after the killing of about fifty Palestinians by the Israeli army in Gaza. Israel responded by expelling the Turkish Consul General in Jerusalem.

Diplomatic efforts continued for months during which President Herzog visited Turkey before the two countries announced in August the return of full relations as well as ambassadors.

Erdogan, a defender of the Palestinian cause, had criticized in the past the Israeli policies practiced by the government of Benjamin Netanyahu (1996-1999 and 2009-2021) towards the Palestinians.

On Wednesday, Herzog, who invited Erdogan to visit Israel, confirmed that the relationship between the two countries "is proceeding according to a very encouraging approach."

Last month, Israel's new ambassador to Turkey, Irit Lillian, presented her credentials to Erdogan.
Wednesday's ceremony comes less than two weeks after the new Israeli government, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, was sworn in.

Erdogan had congratulated Netanyahu on his victory in the November 1 elections, despite the previously strained relations between them.
However, Ankara criticized the new Israeli government dominated by the far-right and described the visit of the Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem as "provocative".

Ben Ghafir's visit to the mosque's courtyard sparked Arab and Islamic condemnation.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is for Muslims the first two qiblahs and the third of the Two Holy Mosques after Makkah Al-Mukarramah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina. As for the Jews, they call it the Temple Mount, and it is the holiest site in their religion.