Israeli couple detained in Turkey to be deported

Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan makes a speech during a ceremony at the Presidential Palace on July 9, 2018 in Ankara, Turkey [Stringer/Getty Images]

An Israeli couple detained in Turkey for photographing the palace of Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, are to be deported to Israel on Friday, following a court hearing in Istanbul, their lawyer told Hebrew media.

The pair, both Egged bus drivers in their 40s, were arrested after the woman filmed Erdogan’s palace during a ferry ride, likely not knowing it was illegal.

They were identified by Hebrew media on Friday as Mordy and Natali Oknin, of Modiin.

They were scheduled to appear in a Turkish court on Friday at 10 a.m., where a judge is expected to order their immediate deportation back to Israel, rather than extending their remand, Hebrew media said.

On Wednesday, Two Israelis was arrested in Turkey under circumstances that were not immediately clear, the Kan 11 state broadcaster reported on Wednesday.

The arrests came a month after Turkish authorities arrested 15 people accused of spying for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency.

Two Israelis reportedly detained in Turkey under unknown circumstances

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