Scene from Turkish TV series
Strained Israel-Turkey ties concern US
American diplomats tell officials in Ankara tensions with Jerusalem may hinder fight against extremists, thwart efforts to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions
American diplomats asked Turkish Foreign Ministry officials on Friday to work towards easing tensions with Israel, which reached a new high after a state-owned Turkish television station aired a series portraying Israeli soldiers as bloodthirsty child-killers.
The US diplomats reportedly made it clear to the Turkish officials that the strained relations between Ankara and Jerusalem threaten American interests in the region.
They added that the tensions may hinder the efforts to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions and thwart the fight against extremist elements in the Middle East.
The US recently criticized Turkey's decision to call off a NATO military exercise due to Israel's participation.
Officials in Jerusalem said Israel was not looking to aggravate the situation, but added that it was up to Turkey to improve the relations between the two countries.
