New Israeli ambassadorial appointment reportedly unlikely unless Ankara reciprocates

Israel doesn't intend to replace its ambassador to Turkey this summer until Ankara sends an ambassador to Tel Aviv, Israeli government sources told The Jerusalem Post this week. Current Ambassador Gaby Levy was appointed in 2006, and his tenure was already extended once so that the embassy in Ankara would not be without an ambassador. But, the sources said, Levy will be returning to Israel this summer, and no one has been appointed in his place. The sources said there was concern in Jerusalem that if Israel were to appoint a replacement, the new ambassador's credentials would not be accepted by Ankara. "We want to make sure there will be no embarrassments," said one source.