Turkey arrests a KESTREL for spying for Israel... but releases it without charge after X-ray shows it did not contain surveillance equipment Officials were told that a secret service agent had been discovered only to be handed... a kestrel. The bird was held in Turkey on suspicion of spying for the Israelis after a metal ring on its foot carried the engraved words "24311 Tel Avivunia Israel." Suspicious residents in the village of Altinayva then handed it over to their local governor. This kestrel was held in Turkey on suspicion of spying for the Israelis after a metal ring on its foot carried the engraved words '24311 Tel Avivunia Israel' but was later released without charge But the bird of prey was freed after X-rays showed it was not carrying surveillance equipment and the ring was a tag for researchers to track migrations. It didn't stop Turkey's Milliyet newspaper later carrying a front-page image of the radiogram with the title "Israeli agent." Ties between Ankara and Jerusalem have been tense since 2010, when Israeli commandoes killed nine Turkish activists aboard a ship that was helping to break a blockade of the Gaza Strip.