Israeli Media: UAE Played a Role in Israeli Couple Release
Israeli media has reported that the UAE's mediation in the Israeli couple's espionage case in Turkey helped in their release.
Israel Hayom newspaper said the UAE helped the Israeli government in the process of releasing the Israeli couple, Natali and Mord Oknin, who was detained in Turkey.
According to the newspaper, the Israeli occupation government requested from UAE National Security Adviser Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who enjoys close ties with Turkey and other defense officials in the country, to help mediate the couple's release.
The newspaper mentioned that Al Nahyan has excellent relations with high-level intelligence agencies in Turkey, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and senior government officials in Ankara.
"Israeli officials made it clear to bin Zayed that the couple had never worked or acted in any or on behalf of any security intelligence agency," Israel Hayom reported.
"The assurances were enough to convince the top UAE official that the Oknins were innocent tourists who were arrested for no wrongdoing," it added.
Detained on suspicion of espionage
The Israeli occupation government announced today, Thursday, that the couple who had been detained in Turkey on suspicion of espionage were released.
Mordi and Natali Oknin were detained last week after visiting the newly opened Camlica Tower -- Istanbul's tallest building.
A court in Istanbul charged them with political and military espionage for allegedly taking a photograph of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's home, Turkish state news agency Anadolu reported.
The couple denied the charges, and Israeli occupation Foreign Minister Yair Lapid insisted they were not employees of any intelligence agency.
Erdogan's intervention
A senior diplomatic source told Israel Hayom that Erdogan's personal intervention in the case "brought the incident to an end," and revealed that "as soon as his office was made aware of the case, the matter was expedited."
For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's office said in a statement that "after joint efforts with Turkey, Mordi and Natalie Oknin were released from prison and are on their way home."
It is worth noting that relations between Turkey and the Israeli occupation have been strained, especially since ambassadors were withdrawn in 2018 after the death of Palestinian protesters in Gaza.
Israeli media repeatedly claimed the presence of ongoing Turkish efforts to restore relations with the Israeli occupation.