Release of Israeli couple accused of spying in Turkey with the mediation of a third country.
Zionist media reported the release of an Israeli couple arrested in Turkey on charges of espionage mediated by a third country.
Turkish authorities have released an Israeli couple arrested a few days ago on charges of spying while taking pictures with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s palace, and the couple arrived at Bangorion Tel Aviv Airport this morning (Thursday, November 18th).
According to the Hebrew media, the couple returned to Tel Aviv on a private plane, and a third country has mediated for their release.
According to a joint statement issued by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office and the Foreign Ministry, Mordecai and Ventali Okinin were released following a joint effort by Turkish authorities.
The statement praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Turkish government for their cooperation in releasing the two Israeli nationals and closing their case, without elaborating on the release process.
The Zionist media did not mention the name of the third country that mediated in this case. But since the couple’s arrest, Israel has made diplomatic and intelligence efforts to resolve the crisis over the two Israeli nationals, and even Mossad chief David Barnia has stepped in to talk to his Turkish counterpart.
Israeli officials say the couple traveled to Turkey on holiday and were arrested for taking pictures of the presidential palace, which they did not know was a crime.
But Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said in his first remarks about the arrests: “They not only took pictures of Erdogan’s residence, but also marked it. Perhaps this can be called political-military espionage. “From now on, it is the court that decides.”
However, Tel Aviv claims that the two detainees were unaware of the ban on taking pictures of the Turkish president’s residence. The Prime Minister of the Zionist regime has also claimed that these two individuals are not affiliated with any of the official institutions of the regime.
