At his meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Israeli Minister of Defense Ehud Barak pointed out that the scandal that involved the Turkish Ambassador to Israel was a misunderstanding.

The Turkey-based Ihlassondakika news website reports that the “chair story” is in the past and the bilateral diplomatic relations will be maintained in conformity with the procedures.

The Isreali Minister of Defense also met with his Turkish counterpart Mehmet Vecdi Gönül. An official ceremony was held. Minister Barak greeted his Turkish counterpart with the words “Good day, warrior.” The two held a private meeting.

The Turkish President, under different pretexts, refused to meet with the Israeli Defense Minister.

NEWS.am reminds readers that on January 11, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon invited the Turkish Ambassador to Israel to his office. At the meeting Ayalon offered a lower chair to the Ambassador and voiced Israel’s protest against the Turkish TV series “Valley of the Wolves”, which shows Israeli agents as kidnappers.

The pictures of the meeting were published by Israeli press, which provoked violent protests in Turkey. The Turkey demanded official apologies from Israel. Israel explained that Daniel Ayalon did not mean to humiliate the Turkish Ambassador. The Turkish side was not satisfied, however. On January 13 night, official Ankara received Ayalon’s official apology for his behavior.

T.P.