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Turkish, Israeli presidents speak after Israeli couple freed

After the phone call between the two presidents, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also called Erdogan, a first between the two leaders.

Israeli couple Mordi and Natalie Oknin, who were held in Turkey for a week on suspicion of espionage, are greeted upon their arrival home in the Israeli city of Modiin on Nov. 18, 2021 following their release.
Israeli couple Mordi and Natalie Oknin, who were held in Turkey for a week on suspicion of espionage, are greeted upon their arrival home in the Israeli city of Modiin on Nov. 18, 2021, following their release. — GIL COHEN-MAGEN/AFP via Getty Images

Following the release of two Israeli tourists after a week in prison on spying charges, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a phone conversation with his Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog where the two leaders underlined the mutual benefits of maintaining talks.

After the talks with Herzog, Erdogan also had a 15-minute phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, the first contact ever since Bennett became prime minister in June. Bennett called to thank Erdogan for his personal involvement in the return of the Israeli couple to Israel. No official statement was made on further content in Erdogan and Bennett's talks at the time of publication.

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