Moments before Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon was to address an international conference on terrorism, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu left the hall to shun his political nemesis. Ayalon is particularly despised by Turkish officials, especially after sending a cynical apology letter to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan regarding the naval commando operation against the Marmara and the incident in which there was a diplomatic row resulting from Ayalon’s treatment of Turkey’s deputy foreign minister.

The move by Davutoglu did not come as a surprise as Turkey continues to exacerbate any chance of mending diplomatic relations between Ankara and Jerusalem, until such time Israel apologizes for the deaths resulting from the commando raid on the Mavi Marmara, an apology that is not likely to be aired any time soon.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)