New Israel's Ambassador Arrives in Turkey Ending 6-Year Diplomatic Hiatus

New Israeli Ambassador to Turkey Eitan Naeh arrived in Ankara on Thursday mending the bilateral relations that broke up in 2010, local media reported.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Naeh previously worked in Israeli embassy in Turkey and also was a deputy ambassador of Israel in London.

Upon arrival, Naeh said that the two countries had a "history of helping each other in times of need," as quoted by the Daily Sabah newspaper. The ambassador thanked Turkey for its help in extinguishing wild fires in Israel last week.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Kemal Okem as the country's new envoy to Israel  on November 30.

Relations between Israel and Turkey deteriorated after the Freedom Flotilla incident in 2010, when a convoy of six ships, including one under Turkey's flag, tried to approach the Gaza Strip with humanitarian aid and activists on board. The flotilla was blocked and stormed by Israeli forces, resulting in nine Turkish citizens being killed.

In June, Israel and Turkey signed a deal to restore ties. Israel also made a formal apology for the raid, paid Turkey $20 million in compensation for it and agreed to ease the blockade on the Gaza Strip.