Israel says Turkey snubbed its ambassador by not inviting him to diplomatic dinner

Israel says Turkey snubbed its ambassador

JERUSALEM — An Israeli official says Turkey has snubbed the country’s ambassador last week by not inviting him to a diplomatic dinner.

Lawmaker Omer Celik of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s party said the snub was a “display of criticism” of Israel’s government.

The incident was the latest sign of deteriorating ties between the two formerly close allies. Relations hit a low point after Israel’s May raid on an international flotilla that aimed to bust the blockade of Gaza and left nine pro-Palestinian Turkish activists dead.

The Israeli official spoke Sunday on condition of anonymity because the ministry had no official comment.