Turkey Says Country Is Safe for Israelis

By Shimon B. Lifkin

YERUSHALAYIM – Turkey said on Tuesday that the country is safe for Israeli tourists, a day after Israel issued a highest-level advisory warning that its citizens should not travel there due to an imminent threat of terror attacks.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said in a statement that while “some countries” has issued travel warnings — not mentioning Israel — Turkey “is a safe country and continues to fight against terrorism,” and that “these travel warnings are considered to be related to different international developments and motives.”

“We continue to fight terrorism very effectively and all precautions are being taken,” he said.

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid on Monday called on Israelis in Turkey to leave immediately and for citizens to cancel travel plans to the country amid reports that an Iranian plot to assassinate Israelis in Istanbul was foiled at the last moment, and that Turkish authorities had uncovered a network of Iranian agents aiming to target Israelis.

“If you are already in Istanbul, return to Israel as soon as possible,” Lapid said. “If you planned a trip to Istanbul — cancel it. No vacation is worth risking your lives for.”

Channel 13 reported that several Israelis in Istanbul were swiftly escorted to the airport last week by Israeli security officials who told them of an Iranian plot to assassinate them.

Many Israelis vacationing in Turkey have ignored the warnings, and others have been booking flights to Istanbul. The country has historically been a popular vacation destination for Israelis, and a current diplomatic thaw between Yerushalayim and Ankara has given a boost to tourism. Çavuşoğlu visited Israel recently, a milestone in improving relations.

Walla news reported that 21 flights with 3,750 passengers departed Israel for Turkey on Monday. Some may have been en route to other countries with a stopover in Istanbul. Israeli authorities have said it is still safe travel via Istanbul, as long as passengers remain in the airport.