Israel's strategic defeat in last years Gaza war is underlined by its plummeting relations with Turkey. The latest episode in the growing apart of these erstwhile allies involves Israel's deliberate humiliation of the Turkish ambassador to the country, Ahmet Oguz Celikkol. The ambassador was called in for a meeting with Israel's deputy foreign minister over Israel's displeasure about a Turkish TV drama that dared to portray the Israeli Defence Force realistically - that's to say as war criminals.
The Turkish ambassador was made to sit in a chair deliberately lower than the diplomats on the Israeli side, and the Zionist's flag was placed on a table in the middle in order to show who was boss - no Turkish flag.
The incident is odd given that Israel is meant to be sending its racist foreign minister to Turkey on a visit. If I was the Turks I would tell them to forget it. In fact Turkey has now threatened to withdraw its ambassador from Israel. Israel has now apologised to Turkey for what it calls a breach of 'diplomatic manners'.
More on the fallout on Haaretz
And from the Turkish (right-wing) point of view see Hurriyet
The Turkish ambassador was made to sit in a chair deliberately lower than the diplomats on the Israeli side, and the Zionist's flag was placed on a table in the middle in order to show who was boss - no Turkish flag.
The incident is odd given that Israel is meant to be sending its racist foreign minister to Turkey on a visit. If I was the Turks I would tell them to forget it. In fact Turkey has now threatened to withdraw its ambassador from Israel. Israel has now apologised to Turkey for what it calls a breach of 'diplomatic manners'.
More on the fallout on Haaretz
And from the Turkish (right-wing) point of view see Hurriyet
Yet the way Israel has chosen to react is not only disproportionate, but despicable. If the intended purpose is to halt Turkish criticisms, not only will it not work, but it could have the reverse effect of escalating tensions between the two countries. This incident will infuriate even those who have been critical of Erdoğan’s policies on Israel.
Comments
Post a Comment