Official Gazette names Turkey’s new ambassador to Israel

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

Turkey’s new ambassador to Israel, Mustafa Kemal Ökem, has officially been appointed to mission after his name appeared in the government’s Official Gazette on Dec. 7. 

The foreign ministry had officially announced Ökem’s appointment to the post on Nov. 30. 

Ökem, previously a chief foreign policy adviser to former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, will assume his duties on Dec. 12 after presenting his credentials to Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.

The new Israeli ambassador to Turkey, Eitan Na’eh, presented his credentials to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Dec. 5. 

In addition to working for Davutoğlu, Ökem worked at the Foreign Ministry’s Middle East directorate and previously served as a diplomat in Turkey’s London and Riyadh embassies. He also served as a permanent representative to NATO. 

Born in Ankara in 1967, Ökem graduated from the Middle East Technical University and completed a master’s degree and a doctorate at the Ankara-based university. He also holds a master’s degree from the University of Oxford. 

Turkey and Israel renewed ties in June following a six-year split over the attack on the Mavi Marmara aid ship in May 2010, when Israeli commandos killed 10 Turkish activists on the Gaza-bound vessel.