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Sunday, June 19, 2022
Lapid to visit Turkey this week amid imminent threat of Iranian attack
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Foreign Minister Yair Lapid will fly to Turkey on Thursday to meet his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara, his office announces.
The two are slated to discuss the ongoing threat of Iranian terror attacks against Israeli travelers.
Senior Israeli officials have been warning vigorously since last week that Iran is looking to avenge the killing of Iranian officials by targeting Israelis in Turkey.
An Israeli official tells The Times of Israel that the focus of the visit will indeed be the Iranian terror threat, and to ensure that the security cooperation with Ankara continues. The official stresses that Turkey, facing a difficult economic crisis, is especially concerned about the situation just ahead of the high season for tourism.
Earlier today, President Isaac Herzog spoke by phone with Turkey’s leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan to thank him for Turkey’s efforts to thwart attacks.
In late May, Lapid hosted Cavusoglu in Jerusalem, as ties between Ankara and Jerusalem slowly thaw, after years of tensions.
The Times of Israel Community.