![Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speaks during the weekly cabinet meeting at the prime minister's office in Jerusalem, on September 5, 2021 [SEBASTIAN SCHEINER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1235064135-scaled-e1632657637265.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett yesterday described the situation of an Israeli couple detained by Turkish authorities in Istanbul as “complex”.
Speaking at the start of a weekly cabinet meeting, Bennett said the couple, Natalie and Mordi Oknin, are “two innocent civilians who were caught up in a complicated situation.”
He stressed that Tel Aviv is working for their release, denying the accusations that they are spies attributed to them by Turkish official media.
Earlier, Turkey’s Anadolu news agency said the couple were arrested on Friday, on charges of espionage for taking pictures of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s residence from a nearby restaurant.
READ: Turkey has not allowed Israeli consul to meet alleged spies