Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said last Sunday that the "normalisation process" between Israel and Turkey "would be good for us, Israel, Palestine and the entire region".

The report in Turkish media on Mr Erdogan's remarks is seen in Israel as a signal that Turkey is seeking to diversify its energy sources in the wake of its deepening crisis with Russia, its main supplier of natural gas.

Foreign Ministry Director General Dore Gold responded to the reports saying: "Israel has always strived for stable relations with Turkey."

● On Sunday night, authorities in Istanbul allowed Chabad to hold a public candle-lighting ceremony for Chanucah. Most of Turkey's Jews live in the city.