Israel apologises to Turkey / Turkey rejects Israeli 'apology'

[demoleft]

Source: al jazeera

Daniel Ayalon, the Israeli deputy foreign minister, has issued a special statement of apology for his treatment of the Turkish ambassador to Israel.

Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net//news/middleeast/2010/01/201011354722296511.html

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on editing, just got this news:


Turkey rejects Israeli 'apology'
Turkey has threatened to recall its ambassador from Israel if a row over the envoy's treatment is not resolved within hours, dismissing Israeli statements aimed at appeasing Ankara.
...
Ayalon said: "In the future, I will clarify my position in diplomatically acceptable ways."
But an unnamed Turkish foreign ministry official told Turkey's Anatolia news agency that the Israeli statements were "inadequate".

al jazeera, http://english.aljazeera.net//news/europe/2010/01/2010113135644186554.html

[Captain Hilts]

1. They are traditional allies. nt

[FarCenter]

2. Well --- they were...

[Captain Hilts]

3. Yeah. Ain't life strange. nt

[demoleft]

5. ooops. just got this: "Turkey rejects Israeli 'apology'"

Turkey has threatened to recall its ambassador from Israel if a row over the envoy's treatment is not resolved within hours, dismissing Israeli statements aimed at appeasing Ankara.
...
Ayalon said: "In the future, I will clarify my position in diplomatically acceptable ways."

But an unnamed Turkish foreign ministry official told Turkey's Anatolia news agency that the Israeli statements were "inadequate".

al jazeera, http://english.aljazeera.net//news/europe/2010/01/2010113135644186554.html

[jasi2006]

4. Yeah, but Ayalon had his fingers crossed when he apologized. nt

[harun]

6. What Ayalon did:

Ayalon had summoned Celikkol on Monday to express Israel's displeasure over The Valley of the Wolves.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valley_of_the_Wolves_Iraq)

At the beginning of the conversation with the Turkish envoy, Ayalon told cameramen in Hebrew: "Pay attention that he is sitting in a lower chair ... that there is only an Israeli flag on the table and that we are not smiling."

[pundaint]

7. Israel should apologize harder, if Turkey apologies for the inflammatory TV

Such shows do more harm than showing up an ambassador.

[gerenimox]

11. hypocrisy

should America apologize for its own inflammatory movies too, such as the midnight express? or does that apply only when a movie shows the crimes jews and christians?

[FarCenter]

8. Other than currying favor with the US, there is no advantage to Turkey to favor Israel

Turkey has more important relations with other countries.

[FarCenter]

9. Veteran diplomats: Turkey should withdraw its ambassador to Tel Aviv

<SNIP>http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=veteran-diplomats-turkey-should-withdraw-itis-ambassador-to-tel-aviv-2010-01-13

“The relations that deteriorated through mutually strong-worded statements have worsened after the Turkish ambassador was purposely insulted and mistreated,” retired Ambassador İnal Batu told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review on Wednesday.

Turkey should withdraw its ambassador for consultations, according to Batu, saying: “Foreign Minister is a fanatic, racist and pro-violence politician. I’d like to see Turkey have a strong credibility among both Arabs and Israelis, which makes it an effective mediator in the Middle East. But the way is not to turn the other cheek.”

Another retired ambassador, Nüzher Kandemir expressed similar views: “Israel must officially apologize to Turkey. It would not be satisfactory to receive a personal apology from Ayalon since he mistreated us on behalf of the government. Turkey should withdraw its ambassador unless the Israeli government apologizes.”

What happened is an “insulting injury” in diplomatic circles and it may take place only between hostile countries or a war-time situation, according to former Ambassador Özden Sanberk.

"It is difficult to tackle the crisis in a short-term. It was an insulting plot,” Sanberk said.

Right-minded diplomats from both sides will restore relations because Turkish-Israeli relations are crucial for regional stability and security, Sanberk said. “ I think the ambassador should be withdrawn if the Israeli side does not take satisfactory steps.”

Deniz Bölükbaşı, a retired ambassador and current deputy president for the Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP, urged a suspension of military cooperation.

“The government has not reacted as strong as Israel’s arrogance deserves. The ambassador must be withdrawn for consultations in Ankara. The planned visit by Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak should be canceled as well. We must withhold military cooperation in response,” he said.

[struggle4progress]

10. Israel apologizes to Turkey in diplomatic spat

... The latest row broke out after Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon summoned Celikkol on Monday to protest against a Turkish television drama that portrayed Israeli diplomats as masterminds of a child abduction ring. Ayalon invited media crews to the beginning of the meeting in Jerusalem and pointed out there was no Turkish flag on the table. He also said he was deliberately avoiding a handshake with the ambassador ... Ayalon later conceded his behavior toward the envoy had been inappropriate ... Israel sent a formal letter of apology to Celikkol on Thursday ... In response, Erdogan said the Turkish foreign ministry had received "the expected, desired answer." But he added more criticism of Israel ... http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60C1M420100113