Istanbul at twilight:
Photo: BULENT KILIC / AFP
For Natalie and Mordi Oknin, the Turkey vacation turned into a nightmare.
The couple from Israel were held separately in Turkish custody for several days.
They have been accused of spying for their homeland.
Now both are at large again.
The Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Jair Lapid announced this in a joint statement on Thursday night.
"After joint efforts by Turkey, Mordi and Natalie Oknin have been released from prison and are on their way home to Israel," it said.
They thanked the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his government "for their cooperation" as well as the Israeli President Izchak Herzog.
The Israelis were arrested for allegedly photographing Erdoğan's private house in Istanbul.
Together with a Turk, they were threatened with espionage charges.
According to Israeli media reports, the woman had sent her family back home in Israel a photo of the building with the words: "Such a beautiful house." According to Turkish media, the photo was taken from the recently opened television tower in Çamlica in the Üsküdar district on the Asian side.
While taking photos, the couple “focused” on the president's residence and gave each other “signs”.
According to Israeli reports, the two were in Turkey to celebrate a birthday.
Both are bus drivers.
In a statement, the Israeli government said neither were spies - a statement Israel never made in other cases.
Landed safely in Israel
According to "The Times of Israel" Natalie and Mordi Oknin have now landed safely in Israel.
The Israeli medium published a photo that shows both of them being warmly greeted with their daughter shortly after arrival.
Prime Minister Naftali shared a similar photo on Twitter.
In Turkey, it is generally forbidden to take photos in military zones and other security zones without a permit.
In October, Turkish media reported that several Israeli agents had been arrested.
Relations between the two countries have long been considered tense.
When the ship "Mavi Marmara" was stormed by Israeli soldiers in 2010, ten Turks were killed.
After a diplomatic ice age, Israel paid $ 20 million to the bereaved in 2016.
asc / Reuters / dpa