Turkish officials arrested an Israeli couple for espionage after they were caught taking photographs of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s home.
The couple was arrested along with a Turkish official after a staff member at the Camlica telecommunications tower reported that the trio took pictures of the presidential residence from the tower and showed them to each other, Turkey’s state-run news outlet Anadolu Agency reported.
Police detained the three people, which the outlet identified as “Israeli NO and MO,” and Turkish citizen “İ.A.” They were later charged with “political and military espionage,” according to the outlet.
The Israeli news outlet Haaertz reported that the couple was Natalie and Mordi Oknin. According to the outlet, the couple had been photographing the Dolmabache Palace while sailing on a ferry.
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The palace has been the presidential residence since 1923, but photographing the site was recently prohibited.
The couple will remain in detention pending trial, Haeertz reported.
Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid denied that the couple worked for an “Israeli agency,” The Associated Press reported. He added that the department is trying to organize the couple’s release.
According to a report, Court rules Natalie and Mordi Vardin will remain in custody until trial after they were detained in Istanbul for taking photo of Turkish president; Lapid says couple not affiliated with any organization
A court in Turkey on Friday, ruled an Israeli couple detained on suspicion of espionage after photographing the palace of the Turkish president, will remain in custody for the next 20 days.
Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said the couple had no affiliation with any organization.
The Israeli Consulate in Istanbul relayed a request to Turkish authorities, to be allowed to meet with the couple immediately.
Natalie and Mordi Vardin were arrested Thursday after they were spotted taking photos of Istanbul residence of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
According to the local attorney hired to represent them, the ruling is indication that they will remain in jail until their trial is to begin.
According to Turkish officials, the couple were standing on the Istanbul communication tower’s restaurant floor taking picture of the city below. A staff member heard them mention the presidential residence and reported the conversation to the police, prompting their arrest along with a Turkish friend who was accompanying them.
It is against the law to photograph the residence; a fact the couple say they were not aware of.
Earlier Turkish officials indicated to the Israeli Foreign Ministry that the couple would be released and deported back to Israel on Friday.
The Turkish authorities did not notify Israel of the arrest and the news was delivered to the Vardin family in Modi’in by the wife of the Turkish friend.
The arrest of the Israeli couple comes only three weeks after Turkey announced it had uncovered a Mossad spy ring operating in that country. At least 15 people were arrested by local police.
Israeli officials said there were concerned that the couple would be tired for espionage.
“This is a ridiculous accusation,” the official said. “Google has better pictures than those taken from afar by the Israeli couple.”Israel and Turkey have been under strained relations since 2003 over Erdogan’s condemnation of Israel’s policy towards Gaza and his support of the ruling Hamas terror group.
In 2010, a Turkish boat, the MV Mavi Marmara took part in a flotilla of boats attempting to reach the besieged enclave and was overtaken by IDF troops suspecting weapons were on board. In the violence that broke out, 10 activists on board were killed and 10 IDF soldiers were wounded.
Israel later agreed to financially compensate the families of the victims but the strained relations with Ankara continued.
The Vardin’s are parents to a child suffering from autism and their family is appealing for help in securing their immediate release.
Mrs. Vardin was able to communicate a call for help through her Tukish attorney’s phone after the ruling. “Please save me, do everything possible to get me out of here,” she said.
