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Israeli President Isaac Herzog is expected to visit Turkey next month, Turkish President Recep Erdogan said.

In an interview with the private NTV channel, Erdogan said his Israeli counterpart will visit the country in the first half of February. "With this visit, a new era in Israel-Turkey relations could begin," he said.

Ties between Turkey and Israel once close regional allies have weakened under Erdogan, who has been openly critical of Israeli policies.

The countries recalled their ambassadors in 2010 after Israeli forces stormed a Gaza-bound flotilla carrying humanitarian aid for Palestinians that had broken the Israeli blockade. Nine Turkish activists were killed in the incident.

Relations deteriorated again in 2018 after Turkey, angered by the relocation of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, once again recalled its ambassador from Israel, prompting Israel to also recall its envoy.

The steps toward rapprochement come at a time when Turkey is trying to end its international isolation by normalizing its troubled relations with several countries in the region, including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

Erdogan also said he will visit the UAE on 14 February.

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