Israel, Turkey leaders talk to improve ties

TEL AVIV, Israel – Turkey’s president and Israel’s likely next prime minister said Thursday in a phone call that they would work to continue to improve ties between their countries.

Relations between former allies Turkey and Israel became icy under former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s term in office. He is now expected to return to power soon as head of Israel’s most right-wing government ever.

Relations were already on the mend under outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in New York in September, the first meeting between the countries’ leaders in 14 years.

Erdogan had shown a willingness for warmer ties since Netanyahu was ousted after 12 consecutive years in power last year. Thursday’s call signaled that the ties could continue to improve under Netanyahu.

Over years of strained relations, Erdogan has been a vocal critic of Israeli policy toward the Palestinians. Israel, in turn, has objected to Turkey’s embrace of Gaza’s militant Hamas rulers.