An experienced career diplomat with a BA in Political Science from Tel Aviv University, Amb. Na’eh has served as the Deputy Head of Mission at the Israeli Embassy in London since August 2013.
Mavi Boncuk |
Israel appoints Eitan Naeh as the new ambassador to Turkey
Israel appointed Eitan Naeh as the new ambassador to Turkey on Tuesday, the first time the post has been filled since 2010.
Israel appoints Eitan Naeh as the new ambassador to Turkey
Naeh is an experienced diplomat regarding relations with Turkey. He served as second and first secretary in Ankara between 1993 and 1997, after which he was appointed as the head of the Turkish-Greek and Cyprus desk in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem in 1999, a title he held for 10 years. This focus of Naeh also indicates that energy issues, mainly concerning the Eastern Mediterranean gas fields, will be among the top priorities of bilateral relations between two countries.[1]
Naeh is the current Deputy Head of Mission (second ambassador) at the Israeli Embassy in London since 2013, and previously served as Ambassador of Israel to Azerbaijan.
Diplomatic ties between Turkey and Israel were disrupted in May 2010 when Israeli commandos killed 10 Turkish activists, including a U.S. citizen, on an aid ship, the Mavi Marmara, which was heading to break the Gaza blockade.
Two countries reached a reconciliation deal in June, which was ratified by Turkish Parliament on Aug. 20 and signed into law by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Aug. 31.
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Since then, both countries have been expected to appoint ambassadors.
[1] A pipeline to Turkey would need to pass through Cypriot economic waters, which could be delayed until a political solution is reached between Greek and Turkish Cypriots on the island.
Israeli and Turkish officials have met in recent months to discuss exports of gas as diplomatic and economic ties have deepened since two countries restored relations in June after a six-year hiatus. Israeli officials have said that Cyprus is open to a pipeline passing through its waters, despite the island’s political issues.
A feasibility study on the pipeline has been co-financed by the EU and an initial assessment showed that the project is within the capabilities of existing technologies, although there is no specific time frame for construction.
BACKGROUND
Relations between Israel and Turkey broke down in the aftermath of the Mavi Marmara incident in May 2010, when Israeli commandos killed nine Turkish citizens in clashes on a boat attempting to break Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip. Turkey recalled its ambassador from Tel Aviv in September 2011 and expelled the Israeli envoy. Under the reconciliation agreement, Turkey was to drop legal claims against the Israeli military and individual officers and soldiers who were part of the Mavi Marmara raid.
Turkey’s Justice Ministry has ordered a court in Ankara to close all lawsuits against Israeli soldiers who raided the Marmara, though the court has not yet officially done so, according to Haaretz. Last month, Israel paid $20 million in compensation to the families of the Mavi Marmara victims. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously apologized for the deaths, which had been another Turkish condition for the resumption of diplomatic ties.