The Turkish Foreign Ministry delivered a diplomatic note to
Israel concerning the harsh remarks of an Israeli general, broadcaster
NTV reported Saturday. In a separate statement, the Turkish army said
the remarks are in an extent that could harm the bilateral relations.

The broadcaster NTV said the note was delivered to Gabi Levy, Israeli
Ambassador to Ankara, on Saturday.

On Friday, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported that Maj. Gen. Avi
Mizrahi, a veteran professional officer, called on Turkish Prime
Minister Tayyip Erdogan to look in the mirror.

The Israeli General took a step further and accused Turkey of
"committing massacre of the Armenians as well as the suppression of
the Kurds". Mizrahi also mentioned the so-called Turkish occupation of
northern Cyprus, according to the report.

ARMY¢S STATEMENT
The Turkish army issued a statement on Saturday to slam Mizrahi over
his words.

"These
remarks, as the way they were published in the media reports, are
considered to be misleading the facts, unfortunate, unacceptable and
more importantly in an extent that could harm the national interests
between two countries," the army said in a statement posted on its Web
site.

The
military also called on the Israeli army, "which is considered to be
attaching great importance to its relations with the Turkish Armed
Forces", to clarify Mizrahi’s statement.

Erdogan has harshly criticized Israel¢s operations in Gaza which
killed more than 1,300 people dead. The relations strained after
Erdogan stormed out of a Gaza debate in Davos with Israeli President
Shimon Peres.

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