Israel's president visits Turkey as nations aim to heal rift

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Israeli President Isaac Herzog arrived in Turkey Wednesday for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, becoming the first leader from Israel to visit in 14 years as the two countries move to turn a new page in their troubled relationship.

Escorted by a Turkish mounted color guard, Herzog arrived at the Turkish presidential palace in the capital, Ankara, as light snow began to fall.

Erdogan and a military honor guard greeted him as a band played the Israeli anthem for the first time since 2008.

Herzog arrived on a plane emblazoned with the words “peace," “future” and "partnership” in Hebrew, Turkish and English.

Turkey and Israel once were close allies, but the relationship frayed under Erdogan, who is an outspoken critic of Israel’s policies toward the Palestinians. Israel also has been angered by Erdogan’s embrace of Hamas, the militant group that controls the Gaza Strip. Israel considers Hamas a terrorist group.

The countries withdrew their respective ambassadors in 2010 after Israeli forces stormed a Gaza-bound flotilla carrying humanitarian aid for Palestinians that broke an Israeli blockade. The incident resulted in the deaths of nine Turkish activists.

Relations broke down again in 2018 when Turkey, angered by the U.S. moving its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, once more recalled its ambassador, prompting Israel to respond in kind. The two countries have not reappointed their ambassadors.

The steps toward a rapprochement with Israel comes as Turkey, beset by economic troubles, has been trying to end its international isolation by normalizing its ties with several countries in the Mideast region, including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

“We will not agree on everything, and the relationship between Israel and Turkey...