On Wednesday evening, the Israeli government formally apologized to Turkey over what Ankara called the "discourteous" way the Turkish ambassador in Israel had been treated by Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon at a summons on Monday.
In particular the fact that Ayalon made Ambassador Ahmed Oguz Celikkol sit on a low couch while he sat on a high chair as he reprimanded Celikkol over a Turkish TV program which portrayed Mossad agents as baby-snatchers had caused outrage in Ankara. "My protest against the attacks on Israel in Turkey remains valid," Ayalon said in a statement on Wednesday. "Nevertheless, it is not my way to disrespect ambassadors' honor and in the future I will clarify my position in a diplomatically acceptable manner."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later on Wednesday sent a letter to the Turkish government including a formal apology and expressed his hope that "this will end the affair." In a first reaction, Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan said the apology was “satisfactory."
On Tuesday, Ankara had summoned the Israeli ambassador to Turkey to express its "annoyance" over the incident. "Turkey has helped Jews whenever they needed it throughout history, and the Turkish-Jewish coexistence represents a history of mutual respect and tolerance," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "Therefore, we reject the allegations that Turkey has no right to preach morality to Israel," it said, adding that claims of Turkish anti-Semitism were unfounded.
The head of Turkey's Jewish community, Silvyo Ovadya, said the row between Turkey and Israel had to be solved courteously. He told AP that the 23,000-member community had no immediate fear, but that more tensions could lead to a rise in anti-Semitism.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak will visit Ankara over the weekend. "We give this visit much importance. The ties between the two countries are important and they must be maintained even if there are ups and downs," an unnamed Israeli official told the AFP news agency.
Have your say and email us your view on this news story.
