Following last weeks shouting match at the Davos, Switzerland economic conference with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President Shimon Peres is calling on the Prime Minister’s Office to implement damage control – to try to mend fences with Israel’s former staunch ally.

During Sunday’s weekly cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert stated that the deterioration in relations between Ankara and Jerusalem is worrisome; adding an optimistic note, that he does not believe the damage will be long-lasting. The prime minister stressed the diplomatic relations maintained between the two countries are important to both Israel and Turkey.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak added Turkey plays a strategically important role in the Mideast, and that Israel and Turkey maintained a good relationship, a deep and comprehensive relationship that must be restored.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni concurred with the assessment of her two senior colleagues.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)