A diplomatic gesture on the part of Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon was among the major reports emerging from the Munich Security Conference.

A panel discussion was on the schedule, a panel presenting speakers from Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt, Russia and the United State. The event was divided into sessions. In the first session featured Saudi Prince Turki al-Faisal, Egypt’s Hossam Zaki, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and US Senator Joe Lieberman.
 
Ayalon intimated that “a nation with a lot of oil” arranged not to sit with Israel, making a direct reference to the Saudis. He added that the lack of respect and tolerance were at the heart of regional problems.

As the next session began, Prince Turki stood up and stated he was not the cause for splitting the panel, and it was more likely the result of Ayalon’s boorish behavior, making reference to Ayalon’s recent diplomatic incident with Turkey’s ambassador to Israel.

Ayalon extended his hand to the Saudi prince, resulting in a round of applause from conference participants and the diplomatic gesture apparently averted another diplomatic row involving Ayalon.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)