JERUSALEM: Israel on Wednesday caved in to demands from Turkey and apologized over an insult to its ambassador in an attempt to defuse the latest crisis between the two nations, a government statement said.
On Monday, Israel’s deputy foreign minister, Danny Ayalon, summoned the Turkish ambassador to complain about a TV show. The ambassador was forced to sit on a low sofa without a handshake, while the Ayalon explained to local TV stations that the humiliation was intentional.
Outraged, Turkey threatened to recall the ambassador.
Late Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said a letter of apology has been written, and the premier “hopes this will end the affair.” Israeli officials said the letter was delivered to Turkish officials in Ankara.
According to quotes obtained by Associated Press, the letter said in part, “The disputes between Israel and Turkey will be solved in a respectful and mutual manner between the two governments. There was no intention to humiliate the ambassador personally. I apologize for the way Israel’s protest was presented.” There was no immediate response from Ankara.
The crisis erupted Monday, when Ayalon summoned the Turkish ambassador, Ahmet Oguz Celikkol, to complain about a Turkish television drama that has been perceived as anti-Semitic. The show, “The Valley of the Wolves,” depicts Israeli security forces kidnapping children and shooting old men.
Ayalon’s detailed explanation of his insult to Israeli TV cameras in the room was made in Hebrew, and the ambassador did not react.
Asked Wednesday what would have happened if Ayalon had made the comments in English instead of Hebrew, Celikkol said, “The meeting would have ended there, and I would just have left.” He was interviewed in Tel Aviv by Turkey’s state-run Anatolia news agency.
Earlier Wednesday, Ayalon issued a statement admitting that his behavior was undiplomatic, but falling short of an apology. Turkey rejected that and threatened to withdraw its ambassador if a formal apology was not forthcoming.
