Israel diplomats at odds over Turkish ties following envoy row

have faith in Turkey? Suuuuurre we do. Even the Turks are humiliated by their PM idiotic remarks. Suggestion, get new leadership. This ones a nut job. turkey is going down the old rat hole. Their only claim to fame was being secular. Now, they join their 'muslim brotherhood' and are at war w/ peace. Very ignorant, very expensive. Faith in Turkey? Only if you appreciate another vocal anti semite whose nation is responsible for the uncounted deaths of both Armenians and kurds, among others.

Thank you Mark

This is an Orwelian trick to fool the public to hate the other guy to help your own cause. Israel and Turkey are pulling a Cheney. Lets pretend to hate these people to justify taxing, people, and expand our militaries, expand our power over other political parties. Its all a lie, and you ate it!!

we are old friend.so you can not have good communication when you are old.so isral and turkey need to refresh their relation ship... jewish are our friend like my friend yakup and alen in istanbul..

all of your mistakes like this make Turkey stonger in the region.you're behaving like out of control.Turkey already continue to raise its power and political clout in the region and you too help Turkey doing it . we are grateful to İsrael...)

The fact this guy holds the most important portfolio in the Israeli government is more than a shame and reflects the disfunctional Israeli voting system that needs to be changed. Liebermans agenda is to isolate Israel from the few allies it has left in order to bolster his nationalistic appeal. Its not an original method. He's a pitiful individual whose methods of conflict in order to isolate will only further limit Israels existence to one of defense, isolation, fear and extremism and xenophobia. He is the very opposite of a diplomat and should be got rid of NOW.

I like both, Turks and Jews. But I dont see Erdogan positive for turkish-israeli relation. Do not support him in the next election and problem will be solved. Greeks antisemitism has historical roots. Greeks polyteism was defeated by jewish monoteism. And Maccabee brothers defeated The mighty Syrian-helenic empire.

Can you pls remind us all what is Alan Johnson, the Secretary for the Home Department, background? A postman, which shows that in Israel there is at least (but probably more) social mobility than in the UK. Just listen to today's BBC news. There is nothing wrong being a bouncer unless you hate black people (most of our bouncers seems to share this colour) as much as you hate Jews, disguised as blindless anti-Israeli thoughts. As much as repulsive ideas and stupid conduct Liberman exhibits, he is an elected member of this Government. Have you forgoten in what a mess the present government has put us into with Iraq and Afghanistan and how many civilians we have already killed and continue to do so far away from the press, for the sake of "security"?? BNP or "The Guardian"? Really does not matter. They are both the same. Go to California and meet Natalie, she is your real pal, you will have a good time together sharing your obscene and repulsive views, sheer bigotry.

You didn't get it right again. I am not telling you you to remove your border with syria, lebanon, eigypt and copy what they are doing. What I am tring to say is promoting peace will stabilise the region.Yes we have women abused everyday as everywhere in the world. yes armed forces abuse kurds sometimes in the south east but the government is commited to prevent these things from happening as much as they can.Yes we still have poverty in some part of the country although it seems disappearing. But bear in mind that the country exported 140 billion dollars worth of products a cross the globe in 2008. If you want to buy a white goods in any europen country, the chances are 20% that you buy a turkish product.The turkish construction companies delivered 20 billion dollars jobs in the only middle east in the same year.I do not mean everything is good but wouldn't it be nice to learn how to get a Nobel prize from Israeli people and thank to their contribution

Mr.Simon Of Sydney Lets say that you are right and lets say that Turkey is the worst country in the world and lets assume that Turks violate all the human rights... Does it make other violations rigiht??? What you wanna proove? We have a saying in Turkish, let me try to translate it "Do what an Imam says, but do not do what he does:)"... So do not do what you criticise:)

What do diplomats matter when the Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister clearly wish to alienate Turkey?

Now, lets put on record the private truth. If Israel wants to be accepted in the neighborhood, like all good neighbors, it has to fit in, thus: It has to lower its standard of living by at least ten fold. It has to replace its democracy by installing, (preferably violently) a dictator and his children. It has to give back all its Nobel prizes for science and promise not to make any more contributions, especially in advanced medicine. It has to raise its level of illiteracy, especially for women. The level of hygiene has to fall, especially concerning public facilities. The gender gap has to be widened, so that women have very little say in politics and in society in general. Forced child marriages, honor killings and violence against dissenting females have to be implemented (Turks, are you listening?) The Turks complain about the inequality in Gaza; but forget to mention that Amnesty International has a very nasty report about their nasty attitude towards millions of women. http://thereport.amnesty.org/en/regions/europe-central-asia/turkey

Some people are either ignorant or delibrately calling turkey extremist islamic country etc.If you want to see turkey as an islamic country that's up to you but far from the reality. People do not want islamic law. Even in the Ottoman times there was no islamic law in turkey. We must promote peace in the middle east that is the key issue for the entire world. This is also fuelling exremism, unti-semitism.Why not make more commercial and personel and sociaty contacts in the near future. I know many prosperous turkish cities in the south that is anly several hours by ferry from Israel. But there is no ferry services between israel and those cities.There are hundreds of ferry services between Greece and turkey everyday. When you visit a local market in some western costal towns you find more greek people shopping in the bazaar than turks. We have now better relationship with greece , old enemy but new friend

Time is running short As long as our national diplomatic catastrophy as personalised by Liberman and his gang is in place our future relations worldwide are at great risk and we can't afford it. Even at the cost of new elections we must get rid of this band as the price of keeping it is by far too high. I think that quite a majority of our citizens are aware of the fact that keeping thigs as they are leads us to a major dusaster.

Our people sometimes has a big problem, an it is blindness. ALL THE conflicts in the middle east lies in the politicians, not in the people. Because all of us are human, and want to live in peace. Have a nice day

I am hoping it will be the United Kingdom. I have sent Ayalon copies of Spooks and keep pointing out that Israelis keep being threatened with arrest if they visit London. But he is refusing to bite any suggestions?

Probably until Shas bankrupts the state with their financial demands to stay in the coalion, or until Netanyahu is forced to resign because of the actions of his wife. You must remember nothing is more important to Hetanyahu that the fact that his name is on the door of the Prime Ministers Office. Which is why Lieberman was put in a position of power in the first place. No sane politician would have allowed it.

Did you watch Red Dawn a film made during the Reagan years?

labarse your idiocy continues as the eu is falling apart it doesnt need beggars like ireland!!

whose deputy is Ayalon is divorced from reality? And this is a surprise? The whle point of the report is to show that the actions of Ayalon has caused no damage to Israeli interests in Turkey. It was merely an exercise, at taxpayers expense, to ensure the re-election of Ayalon at the next election later in the year.

I started to read Haaretz everyday. I think it is very professional and away from prejeduces and baises... When I make comments about relations between Turkish and Israel State, I think all my comments fits in every problems between our countries:) I may make a summary out of those comments that WE NEED EACH OTHER in the region and there is no need to fight like childrens in Governmental Level... Turks are okey with Israel and takes Israel like any other independent states saying about the good things about history between our people but it doesnt avoid their comments when there is excessive power uses towords Gazza... It doesnt mean that Israel musnt protect and defend himself but the only thing that Turks criticises or the reason of criticism is attacks on Gazza with excessive power uses... nothing more, nothing more, nothing more...And nobody approves walking bombers in Israel either as Turkey suffers this kind of terror. Please lets find mature diplomatic way to talk and solve.

do not want it in the EU. Besides it is in Arabia and can learn to get along with it,s neighbours --maybe some day they will forgive Israel and allow her to join their EU counterpart. I doubt it though. As God says--not in my lifetime.

thats the key to this debate ?? i perceive them coming when hell freezes over !!!

hit them where it hurts,their wallets. stop buying Toyato cars made in turkey,likes BEKO home items,and trips to turkey

Thank you fatih for your expression of solidarity. May our nations continue on the path of cooperation and friendship.

I am Turkish, We generally like Jews, of course, Ayalon might not be very popular here, BUT, I've been to Greece and elsewhere, THEY HATE JEWS, THEY ARE TALKING NON STOP BAD THINGS ABOUT JEWS, EVEN AS A NON-JEW, IT WAS DISGUSTING FOR ME, so you better rely on good old Turkey, dear Israel.

Why is it so hard for main stream media to see that turkey is rapidly becoming less of a secular state and more of one based on islamic fundamentalism, with all the obligatory anti-zionism, anti-semitism and anti-westerism (except for future EU money, which is still very welcome) I think the ambassy staff is really out of touch with reality.

I do not think any Jew who knows the history of Turkish and Israel will not write one negaive comment here, 500 years Turks and Jews get alone, and no no one Jew in Turkey is scared, why should they, even Israel dcalers war Turkish Jews wont be scarred, prime Ministers comes and goes and people had to get alone this is very much of Israels foult as it is Turkish prime ministers, and what did Turks did when the movie Midnight Express call on the entire Turkish public a PIG, produced by the Jewish Hollywood producer, did they insult and cut the leg off the chair? that movie cost Turkish economy millions and took food away from the kids selling post card front of the musiums, hollywood puts out all kind of insulting movies against every nation be little other people and show them in negative light, is it what hollywood do, been anti-human race?

I laughed hard on that one! The vally of the wolves IS NOT STATE RUN it is shown on a commercial channel, the channel is called "STAR" and government can't censor the series becouse the producers will just go to court and WIN the case (freedom of speech). Also it is not only you that this series picks on the series pick on Americans, English and it makes the Turkish government seem like a terroist group. SO STUDY THE FACTS BEFORE YOU START WHINING

... in the hands of the present incumbants it is becoming our Achilles heel... ... we are loosing allies, friends and influence... ... how long will Bibi sustain yet another such liability?...

This dispute is not about relations with Turkey but is rather a clash of Israeli left vs. Israeli right. It is abundantly clear that the leftists at the embassy are annoyed that Lieberman's use of humiliation worked because it's so un-PC and un-left. However, the proof is in the pudding. Ankara was acting noxiously up until the humiliation, but has since been virtually silent. The embassy claims that antisemitism is "different" in Turkey, and that certain terms that Jews find offensive are perfectly acceptable to Turks. Yeah, right. So why didn't the officials give some examples? The answer is that THERE ARE NONE. Truth be told, I myself as a rightist was not at all sure that Lieberman knew what he was doing, and found the humiliation episode a bit pathetic. But just as Disengagement supporters have had to admit that time proved that leaving Gaza won't get Israel peace, security, or even a modicum of international legitimacy, so too time has proven that using MidEast mores works.

Since Lieberman and his team took over, there have many more quarrels and disputes and strains with other nations than necessary. i hope the President or PM will do something to STOP this lack of professionalisim!

Foreign Ministery of Israel State and Government is real anti-semitist who gives harm to People of Israel by their attitude. It may lead more loneliness in the Region. Israel is an independent state and must not rely on the support of USA and Europe. Israel musnt use this issue as a treat to evreyone who criticise Israel.Whats more there is no antisemitic practice and ideology in Turkish Republic's Official Environment. Blaming as antisemitism is putting BERLIN WALL in beetween others and Israel against reconciliation. Instead of this, it is better why others criticise Israel and what is the benefit (at least) Israel State can take out of that. Rejection, objection,over-looking leads blindness of some truth. But it is too easy, on the other hand, to say "Turks are antisemitist" to loose reality, be in distorted and imaginative state of mind and to be in illusion. Beleive in me, this behaviour, will not benefit anyone and I dont wanna beleive that it is a strategy of Israel Government

what do they have against the zio state having any friends in the world?

friends left. Ankara always has been good ally of israel in moslem world but now this friendship is up in the air, who's next?

The turkish society must take note that The Muslim world will soon take over their society. For this reason Israel is having a hard time with its relationship with the current regime. If Israel does not reign in its diplomatic relationship a very dear friend will be lost and a sad affair will become reality. So stop fighting and get your act together

We've seen this before, when Amir Peretz held the defense minister portfolio. The only question is, how long will Netanyahu cover for Lieberman's ineptness and insanity, and how many Jews have to die because of it first?

The Turks have really made a mess of things. Arabs clearly remember how much they despised Ottoman rule. The good news for Israel is a Muslim civil war. The situation in Egypt is deteriorating, the world economy is in a shambles, and the various factions of the Islamic world will start to blame each other for their failure to drive the Jews into the sea.

No civilized country in the world today will show on their state run TV such hatefull and openly anti-Semitic propaganda supported by the media and the government(this can happend in germany in 1933) and nobody protested that in Turkey.Or closed military ties with Iran and Syria is just an accident.Wake up.Islam is rising.

Israelis will soon learn that the "thumb in your eye" version of foreign policy that is the hallmark of the neo-con approach to foreign policy, e.i. "if you're not with us, you're agin us", will lead to the weakening of your international standing. When you lose the support of the people in other democracies, you will inevitably lose the support of their governments...America's experience in Iraq comes to mind. Lack of support among foreign publics led to the lack of governmental support. Old Europe didn't appreciate being dissed by Rumsfeld and Cheney and Rice. President Bush didn't know any better, but the consequences were the same.

Erdogan's words are not anti semitic - what are these people running the embassy in Ankara smoking? This guy is the very picture of a jew hater and anti semite! Bring them back to Israel and a little bit of reality - they apparently suffer from Stockholm syndrome and identify with the jew and Israel haters in Turkey. Have Lieberman put some realists into Ankara - better yet, don't send any Israeli's back there - let them all rot in hell.

No wonder they were not consulted. Erdogan has made antisemitic comments. The Embassy is out of touch and possibly scared.

Israelis need to get used to the idea that other nations relations with Israel can be a burden and a liability. There is no nation on earth that needs a relationship with Israel. This certainly includes Turkey. On the other hand, Israel needs good relations with at least a few other nations. Currently, America must pay an annual tribute for the representatives of Israels neighbors just to be in the same room as Israelis. America will not always be there to pressure and pay people to be nice to Israel.

This foreign ministry lives in its own world and nobody takes it seriously...whats gotten into you all of a sudden?

It is strange to witness Israeli government acting like idiots. Bizarre!