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Israel, Turkey seek to mend row Israel, Turkey seek to mend row
(1 day later)
Israel's defence minister has gone to Turkey for talks, in the wake of a diplomatic row which has further soured relations between the two countries. Israel's defence minister has held talks in Turkey, in the wake of a diplomatic row which has further soured relations between the two countries.
Ehud Barak met Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, and will also hold discussions with his counterpart. Ehud Barak said the public humiliation of Turkey's ambassador by an Israeli minister last week was a "mistake".
It comes days after Israel apologised to Turkey after a minister publicly humiliated Turkey's ambassador. Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who did not meet Mr Barak, said Turkey would not take the issue further.
Israeli-Turkish relations have deteriorated since Turkey condemned Israel's Gaza offensive in 2008-09.Israeli-Turkish relations have deteriorated since Turkey condemned Israel's Gaza offensive in 2008-09.
Despite the spat, Mr Barak was warmly greeted by Turkish military officials on his arrival in the capital, Ankara.Despite the spat, Mr Barak was warmly greeted by Turkish military officials on his arrival in the capital, Ankara.
Among those welcoming the defence minister was the Turkish ambassador to Israel, Oguz Celikkol, whose dressing down by Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon came close to breaking relations between the two countries.Among those welcoming the defence minister was the Turkish ambassador to Israel, Oguz Celikkol, whose dressing down by Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon came close to breaking relations between the two countries.
Mr Celikkol was pictured in the foreign ministry seated on a lower chair, the Turkish flag removed from the table.Mr Celikkol was pictured in the foreign ministry seated on a lower chair, the Turkish flag removed from the table.
He was rebuked over a Turkish television drama, which depicted Israeli intelligence agents kidnapping Turkish children.He was rebuked over a Turkish television drama, which depicted Israeli intelligence agents kidnapping Turkish children.
The Turkish envoy was pictured seated lower than Israel's deputy minister [Image: Lior Mizrahi/Israel Hayom]
Mr Ayalon apologised after Turkey's president threatened to recall the ambassador.Mr Ayalon apologised after Turkey's president threatened to recall the ambassador.
"I believe it was a mistake, and the right step was taken according to the norms of diplomacy," Mr Barak said during his visit.
"It is appropriate that all the ups and downs in our relationship over the years should be solved and put behind us."
In what some analysts interpreted as a cold response by Turkey, Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul said the two nations would maintain relations as "strategic allies as long as our interests force us to do so".
He did not address the spat directly.
Mr Erdogan did not meet Mr Barak, but said in a news conference that it was clear that Mr Ayalon had "overstepped his mark".
"What is valid for us is Ehud Barak's statement here, in which he... accepted the mistake," Mr Erdogan said.
He said Turkey was "not thinking of taking the matter any further".
Frayed tiesFrayed ties
Mr Barak's visit was scheduled before the latest diplomatic row but has taken on a heightened importance. Relations between Israel and secular Muslim Turkey, already frayed, sharply deteriorated after Mr Erdogan repeatedly condemned Israel's Gaza offensive.
His first stop was to pay respects at the mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk, modern Turkey's founding father, who is especially revered by the Turkish armed forces. The BBC's Jonathan Head in Istanbul says political relations are still very strained, but there are surprisingly strong links between the two countries' military establishments, dating back to a co-operation agreement in 1996.
The Turkish envoy was pictured seated lower than Israel's deputy minister [Image: Lior Mizrahi/Israel Hayom] Mr Barak was expected during the visit to finalise details of a long-planned sale of Israeli-made unmanned aircraft to Turkey.
Relations between Israel and secular Muslim Turkey, already frayed, sharply deteriorated after Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan repeatedly condemned Israel's Gaza offensive. But, our correspondent says, the governing party in Turkey, with its staunchly Muslim power-base, has made it clear that the close ties the two countries once had are no longer a priority.
The action, which followed years of rocket-fire from Gaza, resulted in the deaths of some 1,400 Palestinians, the UN says, and 13 Israelis.
Mr Barak will not meet Mr Erdogan during the visit.
The BBC's Jonathan Head in Istanbul says political relations are still very strained, but there are surprisingly strong links between the two countries' military establishments, dating back to a co-operation agreement in 1996, and Mr Barak is expected to finalise details of a long-planned sale of Israeli-made unmanned aircraft to Turkey during this visit.
But, he says, the governing party in Turkey, with its staunchly Muslim power-base, has made it clear that the close ties the two countries once had are no longer a priority.