Voice of Israel
Feb 14 2009

Israel "noted down" Turkey protest over army general’s remarks

Turkey has protested to Israel over remarks made by Maj-Gen Avi
Mizrahi, head of the IDF’s Ground Forces Branch. Mizrahi said that the
Turks massacred the Armenians, are repressing the Kurds, and occupied
Cyprus. Maj-Gen Mizrahi made these remarks at a meeting of senior
Israeli officers in reaction to Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan’s
statements at the Davos economic conference.

Gabi Levi, Israel’s ambassador to Turkey, was summoned to the Foreign
Ministry in Ankara and told that Mizrahi’s remarks are unacceptable
and may harm ties between the two countries. The ambassador reported
the issue to the Israeli Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem. Foreign
Ministry officials told our correspondent Shmu’el Tal that they had
noted down Turkey’s demarche.