Turkey protests Israel's insult, calls for apology

Turkey conveyed its protest note to Israeli ambassador regarding Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon's attitude at a meeting with Turkish Ambassador in Tel Aviv Oguz Celikkol.

A statement by Turkish Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that Israeli Ambassador to Turkey Gabby Levy was summoned to the Turkish Foreign Ministry and Gabby was given a note of protest.

"Gabby was told that Turkey expects an explanation and apology on the matter," it said.

"We hope that Israeli Foreign Ministry which assumed undiplomatic attitude with its statements will comply with diplomatic courtesy rules," Anadolu news agency quoted the statement as saying.

The statement added that Turkey expected Israel to take compensatory steps regarding attitude toward Celikkol.

On Monday, Israeli Foreign Ministry expressed uneasiness over a popular Turkish TV series, "Kurtlar Vadisi" (The Valley of The Wolves), through diplomatic channels. Turkish Ambassador in Tel Aviv Oguz Celikkol was summoned to Israeli Foreign Ministry.

"During the meeting, Turkey's ambassador was seated in a low sofa, and facing him, in higher chairs, were Ayalon and two other officials - an arrangement carried out at Lieberman's orders," Israel media said.

A photo-op was held at the start of the meeting.

"Ayalon told the photographers in Hebrew: "Pay attention that he is sitting in a lower chair and we are in the higher ones, that there is only an Israeli flag on the table and that we are not smiling," the reports said.

/World Bulletin/