Israel’s national security advisor felt ‘like a baby’ following apology: Report

JERUSALEM - Haaretz

Yaakov Amidror played a key role in convincing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to make the decision to apologize, Haaretz reported.

The recent breakthrough in Turkish-Israeli relations was met with relief by some Israeli officials, especially those who contributed to efforts over the past three years to bring about a reconciliation agreement, Haaretz reported March 23. According to Haaretz, after  the phone call on March 23 between Netanyahu and Erdogan, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry Undersecretary, Feridun Sinirlioğlu, called Israel’s national security advisor Yaakov Amidror and asked him how he felt about the developments. “Like a baby who has just been born and is waiting to see how his father and mother will look after him,” Amidror replied.  

The left-leaning Israeli newspaper reported that the two men who oversaw the diplomatic breakthrough were Joseph Ciechanover, former director general of the foreign ministry, and Amidror. Ciechanover was Netanyahu's special envoy on the issue, and was involved throughout the lengthy negotiations with Turkey. Amidror joined Ciechanover in his meetings with Turkish counterparts only on some occasions.
 
Haaretz also reported, however, that Amidror played a key role in convincing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to make the decision to apologize. The most active Turkish counterpart in the negotiations of the reconciliation agreement was Sinirlioğlu, who formerly served as the Turkish ambassador to Israel, noted the newspaper.