Israeli officials view Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's recent offer of a meeting in Ankara with his Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog as a "testing ground" for future improved relations with Turkey, the Times of Israel reported.

Erdogan said Herzog would visit Turkey in early February, but gave no other details about the visit.  Herzog's spokesman declined to comment on Erdogan's statement, but officials confirmed talks about organizing the meeting.

An Israeli official quoted by the Haaretz news site described the potential meeting as an “indicator” of the Turkish president’s intentions.

“A meeting at the presidential level is… a tool that can be used,” he said. “The president is a symbolic figure, not a political one, and in any case, Herzog is conducting his own talks with the Turks. One can start with such a channel and then check the developments and implications, all at a slow pace.”

According to another official, “The decision is being formed to change ties with Turkey from ‘frozen’ to ‘cool.’ All kinds of symbolic things can happen. For example, an exchange of ambassadors or economic deals. But we won’t move ahead without clear things in return from Turkey.”