Tel-Chai Nation: It's okay, Ankara, you may recall your ambassador

Following deputy foreign minister Danny Ayalon's slam against Turkey for their continued anti-semitism and what the Turks think is "belittling" them, they're now considering a recall:

Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon's apology for the "hazing" of Turkish ambassador Oguz Celikkol on Monday failed to calm the waters, with Turkish President Abdullah Gul quoted by the Turkish CNBC-e television on Wednesday as saying Ankara would recall its ambassador on Friday unless political tensions between the two countries were resolved.

Turkish sources told The Jerusalem Post that Ayalon's apology was not sufficient, and that Ankara expected an open apology addressed to it.

According to the sources, Ayalon's apology was not clear, and while some Israeli media outlets reported his words as an apology, others said it was not one.

The "news" is contradictory, the sources said, and there has not been any official contact on the issue.

Earlier Wednesday, Ayalon said that his "protest against Turkey's attacks against Israel are still valid, but with that, it is not my custom to insult the honor of ambassadors, and in the future I will clarify my position through acceptable diplomatic means."

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Wednesday morning issued a statement saying he was pleased with Ayalon's apology.

"The prime minister believes the criticism of Turkey by the Foreign Ministry was justified, but should have been relayed in the usual diplomatic means," the statement read.

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who was in Cyprus for an official visit Wednesday, said that Israel was interested in maintaining good ties with Turkey, but that talks between the countries to resolve the current tensions must be conducted while maintaining mutual respect.

Regarding the reason for the recent diplomatic rift, the broadcast on Turkish television of a series with anti-Semitic overtones, Lieberman said that "Israel will not tolerate the dissemination of anti-Semitic content nor any words of incitement against Jews."

The Post has been trying to smear Ayalon for this, when IMO, he did the right thing to make a condemnation, and honestly, even Celikkol himself was asking for it, by being seated in a smaller chair.

And I really won't mind if Turkey decides to recall the ambassador, because with the disgust they've been churning out lately, it makes little difference. Also, they've getting cozier with Syria and Iran...

Labels: anti-semitism, islam, Israel, msm foulness, turkey

The Post is wrong. Dressing down the Turks was appropriate. There should be a common understanding between friends and whatever it was like in the past, the truth is Turkey is no friend of Israel today.

Posted by NormanF | 1/13/2010 08:54:00 AM

There's no problem for states to express their displeasure to one another. Canada and the US, probably the two most intertwined nations on earth, regularly express their concern to one another if there's a problem. That being said, Ayalon's actions were inappropriate. He did act like a child and I think the Turks have every right to be fuming. Imagine if the Turks made Israelis sit below them and boasted to everyone about how they've made the Israelis physically lower than them. The behavior is appalling and, I think, speaks to serious problems in how Israel conducts in international relations.

Posted by Cory | 1/13/2010 10:55:00 AM