"Israel" Apologizes for Insulting Turkish Envoy

Local Editor 13-01-2010

Danny Ayalon, "Israel's" Deputy Foreign Minister has made a formal apology to Ankara for mistreeting Turkey's ambassador during a meeting in Tel Aviv over a Turkish TV series.
In the statement Ayalon said that it is not his way to disrespect ambassadors' honor and in the future he will clarify his position in a diplomatically acceptable manner.

"Israel's" protest is against a criticism directed by Turkish leaders at "Israel" over its Palestinians, and also to the Turkish Drama "The Valley of the Wolves", which depicts "Israeli" security forces as kidnapping children and shooting old men.

On Wednesday, "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his satisfaction with Ayalon's apology, saying although his protest was justified. Yet, he should have used diplomatic way to express his outrage.

Ahmet Oguz Celikkol, the Turkish Ambassador, was summoned by Ayalon to Tel Aviv on Monday, and was made to sit in a chair lower that that of Ayalon and other three "Israeli" officials. During the meeting the Turkish flag was not on display, while the hosts spoke Hebrew and refused a handshake of Calikkol's.

After President Abdullah Gul threatened to withdraw the Turkish ambassador from Tel Aviv, "Israel" hurried to apologies.

"Israel" and Turkey used to enjoy close economic and military ties during the previous decade, yet many Turks disapprove on "Israel's" treatment of the Palestinians, leading the Turkish government to take a stand in this issue, where is condemned the "Israeli" crimes committed against Gazans.

After Turkey banned "Israel" from participating in a NATO air force drill, tensions took place between Ankara and Tel Aviv. On the same level, Ankara continued straining the relations with "Israel" after refusing to stop the broadcast of the anti-"Iraeli" series, "The Valley of the Wolves".