Turkey's ambassador to Israel was summoned by Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon to receive an official reprimand for a Turkish television show depicting Mossad agents as baby snatchers.
Ayalon refused to shake Ambassador Ahmet Oguz Celikkol's hand when asked to do so by journalists attending the official reprimand, and said in Hebrew that "we just want it to be seen that he is seated below us and that there is only one flag here".
In English, he told the ambassador that "unfortunately there is something we are concerned about, which I want to discuss with you without the presence of the press, in order to preserve discretion".
Regarding Erdogan's criticism of Israel, the ministry's statement condemned "the Turkish prime minister's unbridled attack at a joint press conference with the Lebanese prime minister".
"Israel maintains respect for Turkey and is interested in proper relations between the two states, however we expect reciprocity and a similar attitude from the Turkish side," Levy said in a statement.
Ayalon refused to shake Ambassador Ahmet Oguz Celikkol's hand when asked to do so by journalists attending the official reprimand, and said in Hebrew that "we just want it to be seen that he is seated below us and that there is only one flag here".
In English, he told the ambassador that "unfortunately there is something we are concerned about, which I want to discuss with you without the presence of the press, in order to preserve discretion".
Regarding Erdogan's criticism of Israel, the ministry's statement condemned "the Turkish prime minister's unbridled attack at a joint press conference with the Lebanese prime minister".
"Israel maintains respect for Turkey and is interested in proper relations between the two states, however we expect reciprocity and a similar attitude from the Turkish side," Levy said in a statement.
