Israel frees Turkish woman accused of terror-related smuggling

The release of a Turkish woman charged with smuggling in Israel marks an upturn in Turkey’s volatile relations with Israel, but analysts warn that the two countries' motivations for friendship — cynical business interests — can only do so much to keep the tension at bay.
Turkish citizen, Ebru Ozkan, who was arrested at an Israeli airport last month, is being brought to an Israeli military court, near Migdal, Israel July 8, 2018 REUTERS/Nir Elias - RC12410D5420
Turkish citizen Ebru Ozkan, who was arrested at an Israeli airport last month, is brought to an Israeli military court, near Migdal, Israel, July 8, 2018. - REUTERS/Nir Elias
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Amberin Zaman
@amberinzaman

Turkey’s erratic relations with Israel seemed to be on the upswing again amid news that Israeli authorities freed a Turkish woman charged with smuggling goods to a terrorist group and allowed her to return home on July 16.

Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin confirmed on Twitter that Ebru Ozkan was free and had been contacted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to convey his sympathy over her ordeal.

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