Israel’s Deputy Ambassador to the UK, Eitan Na’eh, has been appointed as the new Ambassador to Turkey by the Israeli Foreign Ministry, it was revealed this week.
Na’eh, who has been at his post at the Israeli Embassy in London for two and a half years, will be Israel’s first Ambassador to Turkey for six years, after the two countries agreed to normalise relations in June this year.
In turn, Ankara appointed it own Ambassador to Israel, Kemal Ökem; a close associate of Turkey’s Islamist President Tayyip Erdogan.
The two once close regional allies fell out after a deadly confrontation in May 2010 between Israeli commandos and Turkish activists on a passenger vessel seeking to breach Israel’s naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.
As part of the deal, Israel will set up a compensation fund for the nine victims’ families, on the understanding that the Turkish parliament blocks all legal claims against Israeli soldiers involved in the incident. It will also allow Turkey to deliver humanitarian aid and non-military supplies to Gaza while making infrastructure investments.
Na’eh is familiar with Turkey, having been assigned as first and second secretary in Ankara in 1993.
Before becoming deputy ambassador in London, Na’eh was the Foreign Ministry’s representative on the National Security Council in the Prime Minister’s Office. Before that he was Israel’s ambassador to Azerbaijan.
Israel’s Ambassador to the UK, H.E. Mark Regev, told Jewish News: “London’s loss will be Ankara’s gain; I wish Ambassador Na’eh success in his new role”.
CFI congratulates the Deputy Ambassador on his appointment, and wishes him every success in the new role.
