In wake of tension, top Israeli diplomat due in Ankara today

In the wake of a diplomatic row over discourteous treatment of Turkey's Ambassador in Tel Aviv Oguz Celikol, a top Israeli diplomat is due in Ankara today. Israeli Foreign Undersecretary Yossi Gal's trip also comes on the heels of a Sunday visit by Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak. Gal will be received by Foreign Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu, State Minister and Chief European Union Talks Negotiator Egemen Bagis, and Murat Mercan, the head of Parliament's Foreign Relations Commission. Gal, who is visiting Ankara in line with twice-yearly negotiations between the two countries, is soon set to take the post of Israel's ambassador to Paris, and reportedly has close relations with French officials responsible for the EU.