Turkey names new ambassador as Ankara and Jerusalem exchange barbs

Turkey has named a new ambassador to Israel to replace envoy Ahmet Oguz Celikkol, who was recalled after a humiliating public debacle in Jerusalem earlier this year. According to a report aired by private television network NTV on Sunday, Celikkol, who held the post for less than a year, will be replaced this summer by Kerim Uras, a diplomat who is an expert on Middle Eastern affairs.

Summoned to the Israeli Foreign Ministry on January 11, Celikkol was seated on a chair lower than the chair of Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon and confronted by Ayalon and three other Israeli officials in higher chairs. In a violation of diplomatic protocol, the Turkish flag was deliberately not on display during the meeting. Celikkol was also addressed in Hebrew and was refused a handshake.

During the controversial meeting, Ayalon chastised Celikkol over a Turkish prime-time TV show in which Mossad agents were depicted as child-killers and kidnappers.

President Shimon Peres (left) accepts the credentials of Turkey's outgoing ambassador, Ahmet Oguz Celikkol (right), on December 9, 2009

Ayalon later issued a formal apology after Turkish President Abdullah Gul threatened to withdraw Turkey’s ambassador if the dispute between the two countries was not resolved. Israel and Turkey have enjoyed close economic and military ties for the last decade but relations were strained following Operation Cast Lead. Turkey’s leaders condemned the Israeli offensive against Gaza and bilateral relations deteriorated.

Tensions flared between Ankara and Tel Aviv again in October 2009 after Turkey banned Israel from participating in a NATO air force drill. Ankara further strained relations earlier this year when it refused to stop broadcasting a television drama that depicted Israeli soldiers killing Palestinian children.

Relations between Turkey and Israel suffered further strain on Tuesday with Ankara’s reaction to comments by Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. The foreign minister said recently that Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan was becoming Muammar Gaddafi and Hugo Chavez. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu described the remarks as inappropriate and called on Jerusalem to end its “unacceptable approach.”

Lieberman’s comments followed an impassioned speech on Sunday by Erdogan, who spoke of “black clouds” in Jerusalem while comparing the situation of Palestinians to the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile.

Tags: Celikkol, Danny Ayalon, Israel, Kerim Uras, Turkey