ISRAEL APOLOGISES TO TURKEY

Israel caved in to demands from Turkey and apologised over an insult to its ambassador. Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon had summoned the Turkish ambassador to complain about a TV show. The ambassador was forced to sit on a low sofa without a handshake which outraged Turkey and it threatened to recall the ambassador. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said a letter of apology has been written, and the premier “hopes this will end the affair.” Israeli officials said the letter was delivered to Turkish officials in Ankara. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accepted the apology.