Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan named a new ambassador to Israel today, reciprocating a move by the Israelis taken a day earlier, a decision which is being seen as a step towards restoring diplomatic relations between the two countries.<br/><br/>Israel and Turkey said in June they would normalise relations – a rapprochement driven by the prospect of Mediterranean gas agreement as well as mutual apprehension over security risks in the West Asia.<br/><br/>Mr. Erdogan told at a conference in Ankara before leaving on an official visit to Pakistan that they are appointing as ambassador to Israel, Kemal Okem, who is prime minister's foreign affairs adviser.<br/><br/>Yesterday, the Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman said Eitan Na'eh, presently deputy ambassador in London, had been appointed ambassador in Ankara.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan named a new ambassador to Israel today, reciprocating a move by the Israelis a day earlier a decision which is being seen as a step towards restoring diplomatic relations between the two countries.<br/><br/>Israel and Turkey said in June they would normalise relations – a rapprochement driven by the prospect of Mediterranean gas agreement as well as mutual apprehension over security risks in the West Asia.<br/><br/>Mr. Erdogan told at a conference in Ankara before leaving on an official visit to Pakistan that they are appointing as ambassador to Israel, Kemal Okem, who is prime minister's foreign affairs adviser. Yesterday, the Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman said Eitan Na'eh, presently deputy ambassador in London, had been appointed ambassador in Ankara.