Defense ministers say Israel-Turkey diplomatic row over

ANKARA, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Israeli and Turkish defense ministers said Sunday they had overcome a diplomatic dispute between the two countries, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.

Speaking after his talks with his Turkish counterpart Vecdi Gonul, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Israel and Turkey managed to move beyond a disagreement after Israel apologized for its ill-treatment towards Turkish Ambassador in Tel Aviv Oguz Celikkol.

"I believe it was a mistake," said Barak who arrived in the Turkish capital of Ankara early Sunday for a one-day trip. "It is appropriate that all the ups and downs in our relationship over the years should be solved and put behind us."

Gonul said, "We are living in the same area. Although we don't have common borders, we have the same interests," adding "We are strategic allies as long as our interests force us to do so."

Earlier Sunday, Barak met with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. However, President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan were not available to meet the Israeli defense minister, citing programs outside Ankara.

Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon who summoned Celikkol to express Israel's uneasiness over a Turkish TV-series "The Valley of The Wolves," showing Israeli agents kidnapping a child, had Celikkol sit at a lower armchair in front of a table with only the Israeli flag on it, after denying him a handshake in front of the press.

On Tuesday, Ayalon issued a statement saying his behavior had been inappropriate. However, Turkish President Abdullah Gul still demanded a formal apology on Wednesday, threatening to recall Celikkol the next morning if Israel did not resolve the row by Wednesday evening.

The diplomatic crisis ended when Israel apologized with a letter after repeated calls from Turkey.

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Wednesday Israel respects Turkey and its people but expects Ankara's respect in return, vowing not to tolerate any anti-Semitic positions.

Relations between Turkey and Israel began to sour in December 2008 when Israel launched an offensive in the Gaza Strip, which ended in January 2009 leaving some 1,400 Palestinians killed.

In a rare move to protest the 22-day operation, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stormed out of a debate with Israeli President Shimon Peres at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland in January 2009.

Turkey also banned Israel from participating in a NATO air force drill in October 2009 and later refused to censure a fictional television program that features Israelis killing Palestinians.