President Isaac Herzog on Monday spoke with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and wished him a happy Eid al-Fitr, a holiday marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
The Turkish leader sent Herzog a congratulatory letter on the occasion of Israel's 74th Independence Day.
At the start of their conversation, Herzog wished Erdoğan and the people of Turkey a Happy Eid al-Fitr and thanked the Turkish President for his congratulatory letter on the occasion of the State of Israel's 74th Independence Day.
Erdoğan expressed his hopes that the Eid al-Fitr holiday will bring joy, peace, and affinity throughout the region. The two leaders discussed the importance of open and ongoing dialogue for the maintenance of calm and stability in the whole region, especially in present times.
The letter said: "On the occasion of the National Day of the State of Israel, I extend congratulation to Your Excellency and the people of Israel on behalf of my nation and myself. In the new period in our relations, heralded by your Excellency's visit to our country in March, I sincerely believe that the cooperation between our countries will develop in a way that serves our mutual national interests, as well as regional peace and stability."
"Taking this opportunity, I extend my best wishes for the health and happiness of Your Excellency, and for the well-being and prosperity of the people of Israel."
President Herzog thanked President Erdoğan for his greetings and noted that they must keep working in cooperation with each other for the benefit of both nations.
The letter was published by Herzog's office at the end of the second phone call held by both leaders within two weeks.
The last time the two spoke was on April 19, following the riots on Jerusalem's Temple Mount and Erdoğan's condemnation of Israeli intervention at the holy site.
After that call, Herzog's office said the two discussed "the need to calm the spirits". It was also argued that Erdoğan "was happy" about the statements made by senior Israeli officials about maintaining the status quo on the Temple Mount. But he himself issued a more acute announcement - saying he told Herzog that the recent events, in what he called the "Palestinian territories," were a result of "some radical Israeli groups and security forces."