Pulling a page out of its diplomatic playbook, Israel’s foreign ministry plans to respond to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s diatribe against the country by forcing the Turkish leader to sit in a tiny chair during his next visit.
Officials pointed to the success of a similar measure in 2010, when then-deputy foreign minister Danny Ayalon forced the Turkish ambassador to sit in a low chair in response to a negative portrayal of Israel on Turkish television. The move was widely considered a success, restoring Israel’s diplomatic standing and launching seven years of smooth relations with Turkey.
Now, following Erdogan’s recent criticism of Israeli policy towards the Palestinians, experts agree that the only way to restore Israel’s international standing is with a similar response. Israeli defense minister Avigdor Lieberman has reportedly spent the last week searching for the lowest seat on the market.
“First I considered buying a child’s seat for Erdogan, but even that may be too dignified,” Lieberman told The Mideast Beast. “Only by forcing him to sit in a seat made for a Barbie doll can we finally convince Erdogan, and the world, that we are worthy of respect.”
