, Turkey
Oct 24 2009

Israel sends warm message to Turkey after "temporary" status quo

A senior Israeli official signaled warm ties with Turkey after a
"temporary" status quo that got worst after a Turkish series crisis.
Saturday, 24 October 2009 10:52
World Bulletin / News Desk

A senior Israeli official signaled warm ties with Turkey after a
"temporary" status quo that got worst after a Turkish series showed an
Israeli soldier shot dead a Palestinian child, the state-run Anadolu
Agency said.

Israeli Vice Prime Minister, Silvan Shalom, said Friday the recent bad
developments between Turkey and Israel were temporary.

Turkey’s public broadcaster TRT has removed scenes of Israeli violence
against Palestinians from the TV series " Separation" that caused a
diplomatic row with Israel.

Speaking to Turkish reporters on his country’s recent relations with
Turkey, Shalom said that Israel wanted to go back to times of good
relations with Turkey.

"Turkish President Abdullah Gul is a very good friend of mine, Shalom
said, "Turkey and Israel should go back to the times of good will and
good relations."

The two countries have many common points and interests, Shalom stressed.

The status quo between Turkey and Israel is temporary and I want to
believe that we will overcome the present situation, Shalom said.

Asked about what caused the recent tension between Turkey and Israel,
Shalom indicated that he did not know what triggered the tension.

The tension was not caused by the Israeli side, Shalom said.

I believe that the two countries will find ways to overcome the
difficulties, Shalom also said.

TRT is sponsoring the 13-episodes series with the motto "7 countries,
7 headliners".

"Separation" underlines that the believe will not dissappear in the
holy territory which becomes symbol of the humanitarian joint place
for both Palestinians and Israelis without discrimination between
Muslims or Jews.

Series crisis

First episode, titled "Palestine in Love and War", was shot in the
first qibla (direction of the Muslim prayers) Al-Aqsa mosque and the
most important place for Jewish believers, Wailing Wall.

Other episodes of "Separation" was shot in Armenia, Chechnya, Iran,
Ozbekstan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan alongside Turkey.

The first episode portrayed Israeli forces as shooting innocent
Palestinian civilians, insulting and ridiculing them.

Israeli soldiers were shown killing a newborn baby, a little girl and
an elderly man on his way to pilgramage in Mecca.

Observers say the series was inspired by true events and actions
carried out by Israeli soldiers.

Earlier, Turkey has said bilateral ties will continue to suffer unless
Israel ends the humanitarian tragedy in the Gaza Strip and revives
peace talks with the Palestinians.

Earlier this year, outspoken Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan has harshly criticised Israeli war in Gaza in Dec-Jan during
Davos Summit. He also critised Israeli nuclear arms during the last
meeting of United Nations Security Council.