Israel appoints new envoy to Turkey for first time since flotilla crisis

Israel's deputy ambassador in London, Eitan Na'eh, is selected to serve as ambassador in Ankara.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Updated: NOVEMBER 15, 2016 16:42
Eitan Na'eh (photo credit: TWITTER)
Eitan Na'eh
(photo credit: TWITTER)
The Foreign Ministry on Tuesday appointed Eitan Na'eh as Israel's new ambassador to Turkey.
Israel and Turkey have not had ambassadors in each other’s countries since Ankara recalled its ambassador in Tel Aviv in 2010 following the Mavi Marmara incident, and expelled Israel’s envoy to Ankara in 2011.
The exchange of ambassadors will formally mark the re-establishment of full diplomatic ties between the two countries, following an August deal to end the six-year rift between the two regional powers.
What MKs think about Turkey deal
Relations between Israel and Turkey crumbled after IDF soldiers raided the Turkish ship the Mavi Marmara to enforce a naval blockade of the Hamas-run Gaza Strip and 10 Turkish activists on board were killed attacking Israel Navy commandos.
Na'eh will take the post after having served as the deputy ambassador of Israel's mission in London since 2013.
He is due to return to the embassy in Ankara after having served there in 1993 as 1st and 2nd secretary.
In his diplomatic capacity, Na'eh has also served as Israel's ambassador to Azerbaijan.
Herb Keinon contributed to this report.