Turkish ambassador asks to leave Israel following humiliation

Following public humiliation orchestrated by Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon, Turkish Ambassador Ahmet Oguz Celikkol announces he wishes to leave Israel

Roni Sofer

Turkish Ambassador to Israel Ahmet Oguz Celikkol has expressed a wish to leave Israel following the public humiliation he suffered at the hands of Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon, a telegram sent to the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem from the Israeli embassy in Ankara said.

A senior official at the Foreign Ministry confirmed on Tuesday that Celikkol put in a request with the Turkish Foreign Ministry to leave his current post. Jerusalem estimates that the ambassador's reasons for leaving are personal.

Sources at the Foreign Ministry estimated that Celikkol will assume a post as ambassador in one of the European states. Jerusalem is thus awaiting an official announcement from Turkey, as well the identity of the new ambassador to replace Celikkol.

Ayalon expressed regret over the Turkish ambassador's departure but said he hopes this does not compromise the two countries' relations. According to him "it's an internal Turkish matter."

Last month Celikkol was summoned for a reprimand meeting in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem following the broadcast of a Turkish television series slandering Israel. The reporters who came to cover the meeting asked the two to shake hands, however Ayalon refused.

"The important thing is that they see he's sitting lower and we're up high and that there's only one flag, and you see we're not smiling," the deputy foreign minister muttered in Hebrew with the ambassador right next to him.

Following the incident and at the insistence of Turkish President Abdullah Gul Ayalon issued a statement in which he promised never to behave in such a way in the future.

Ayalon wrote in the letter, "Although we have our differences of opinion on several issues, they should be discussed and solved only through open, reciprocal and respectful diplomatic channels between our two governments."

The letter also noted, "I had no intention to humiliate you personally and apologize for the way the demarche was handled and perceived. Please convey this to the Turkish people for whom we have great respect."

Source: Ynetnews.
Link: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3843161,00.html.