![One newspaper captioned the picture "the height of humiliation" [Image: Hurriyet]](http://agora-dialogue.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/round-ii-of-davos-300x201.jpg "One newspaper captioned the picture \"the height of humiliation\" [Image: Hurriyet]")
Turkey has demanded that Israel apologise over what it called the “discourteous” way its ambassador was treated during a diplomatic meeting.
Israel summoned Turkey’s ambassador to rebuke him over a TV series but ensured he was photographed on a lower chair.
In response, Turkey has summoned the Israeli ambassador to Ankara to express its “annoyance”. The foreign ministry has also insisted it expects steps to be taken to compensate its envoy. In a statement, the ministry said it awaited “an explanation and apology” for the “attitude” of Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon.
“We invite the Israeli foreign ministry to respect the rules of diplomatic courtesy,” the statement said.
The television series that sparked the diplomatic row depicts Israeli intelligence agents as baby-snatchers.
‘Repeated provocation’
Footage of Mr Ayalon urging journalists to make clear that the ambassador was seated on a low sofa, while the Israeli officials were in much higher chairs, has been widely broadcast by the Israeli media.
He is also heard pointing out in Hebrew that “there is only one flag here” and “we are not smiling”.
In an interview with Israel’s Army Radio, Mr Ayalon was unapologetic.
“In terms of the diplomatic tactics available, this was the minimum that was warranted given the repeated provocation by political and other players in Turkey,” he said, according to Reuters.
One Israeli newspaper marked the height difference on the photo, and captioned it “the height of humiliation”.
The meeting with the Turkish ambassador, Ahmet Oguz Celikkol, was called over the fictional television series Valley of the Wolves, popular in Turkey.
It depicts Israeli intelligence operatives running operations to kidnap babies and convert them to Judaism.
Last October Israel complained over another Turkish series, which depicted Israeli soldiers killing Palestinians. In one clip, an Israeli soldier shoots dead a smiling young girl at close range.
The row comes ahead of a planned visit by Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak to Turkey on Sunday.
Turkey has long been an ally of Israel, but relations have deteriorated as Ankara has repeatedly criticised Israel for its offensive in Gaza a year ago.
Rights groups say about 1,400 Palestinians died during the operation, which Israel said was aimed at ending rocket fire by Hamas.
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Both countries have much bigger problems to deal with. The Cyprus problem, the recognition of the Armenian genocide for Turkey and Israel’s policy toward the Palestinians.
The Turko-Israeli relationship is really interesting. We have to admit that both countries are playing very carefully and their tactics are facinating.