Israel's Foreign Ministry has appointed Irit Lillian, Israel's chargé d'affaires in Ankara since February 2021, as ambassador to Turkey, the Times of Israel reported.

Turkey recalled its ambassador to Israel in 2018 and expelled the Israeli ambassador in protest of Israel's response to the Gaza border riots that killed dozens of Palestinians.

The two sides announced last month that they would fully restore diplomatic relations after two years of slow reconciliation, which accelerated markedly this year thanks to reciprocal visits by senior officials.

The appointment will require the final approval of the government, and since it is a transitional government, the approval of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara.