Turkish President Abdullah Gul is planning an official visit to Israel in the coming months to put an end to the crisis in relations between his country and Israel.

Jak Kamhi, a leader in the Turkish Jewish community who is considered close to the Turkish president, was in Israel about a week ago and met with President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. The Turkish Jewish community and the crisis in relations with Turkey were discussed at the meetings.

In his talk with Peres, Kamhi gave him a personal note from Gul. In the short message, Gul stressed his wish that a state visit to Israel be arranged for him this year, that he had originally planned to come in January, but the visit did not take place and he is now eager to plan such a visit. The reason given for the cancellation of the January visit was that Gul had an ear problem, and his doctors recommended he not fly.

But the probable reason for the cancellation was Operation Cast Lead and the tensions between Turkey and Israel.

Sources in Jerusalem say the visit is not expected to take place before the Turkish elections at the end of March, and is unlikely even by the end of June, because of extensive preparations for the Pope's visit in May, Haaretz reports.