Israel names new envoy to Turkey amid tensions over Gaza and Syria
Israel has appointed a new head of mission to Turkey this week, despite its embassy in Ankara remaining effectively closed over security concerns, an Israeli official told Middle East Eye on Wednesday.
The Israeli foreign ministry selected Joel Lion as charge d’affaires. Lion served as Israel’s first resident ambassador to Moldova until April 2025 and as its non-resident ambassador to Armenia until August 2026.
His appointment follows the retirement of Israeli ambassador Irit Lillian earlier this year, which left the ambassador’s post in Turkey vacant.
Lion was in Ankara on Wednesday to present his credentials to the Turkish foreign ministry.
The Israeli official told MEE that the embassy’s status was purely a security matter, not politics. The official maintained that the embassy was not formally closed, as its local staff continued to operate in Turkey.
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
“Both sides agree that the embassy should stay closed over the security issues,” the official said.
Lion’s trip marked the first visit by a senior Israeli official since Israel withdrew its staff from Ankara and Istanbul in late 2023.
Despite a brief thaw in relations in 2022–2023, Israel and Turkey have been increasingly at loggerheads since the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel. Ankara initially condemned Israel’s military actions, later describing its war on Gaza as genocide and imposing trade sanctions in 2024.
Tensions escalated beyond rhetoric earlier this year over Syria.
Last month, Israeli strikes targeted the Abu al-Duhur military air base in northern Syria, approximately 70km from the Turkish border. Israel said that Turkey was preparing to deploy air defence systems at the base, alleging that they could restrict Israel’s freedom to conduct air operations.
Ankara generally expects that a possible defeat for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the upcoming October general elections could reopen dialogue between Turkey and Israel. The Israeli official, however, argued that Netanyahu’s government could survive by forming a different coalition with other parties.
Such a change, the official added, could bring broader shifts in Israeli policy towards the region.
The official also argued that the biggest problem between the two countries was “incitement against Israel” in the Turkish media.
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.
