Turkey Threatens to Pull Israel Envoy Over Row
VOA News 13 January 2010
Turkey's president is threatening to recall the country's envoy to Israel unless Israel delivers a formal apology for offending its ambassador.
President Abdullah Gul set a Wednesday deadline after Israel's deputy foreign minister, Danny Ayalon, issued a statement criticizing his own behavior toward the Turkish envoy as "inappropriate."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Ayalon's statement Wednesday as an apology. Ayalon did not use the word "apology" in his remarks.
The dispute stems from a meeting Monday between Ayalon and Turkish Ambassador Ahmed Oguz Celikkol. The Israeli diplomat met with Celikkol to complain about how Israeli security forces were being depicted in a Turkish television series. During that meeting, Ayalon told photographers to note that the ambassador was given a seat lower than his own. Ayalon also refused to shake the ambassador's hand.
Mr. Netanyahu issued a statement Wednesday chiding the Israeli diplomat for his conduct.
The incident has worsened ties between Israel and Turkey, which have been strained since Israel's offensive in Gaza last year.
Despite the dispute, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak is scheduled to visit Turkey on Sunday for talks with senior officials.
Ayalon says his protest against the Turkish television series remains valid.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
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