Jerusalem Post
Feb 15 2009
Turkey irked by IDF general’s remarks
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Turkey’s foreign ministry summoned Israel’s ambassador on Saturday to
complain about a comment a senior Israeli general had made criticizing
Turkey. It was the latest development in a growing war of words
between the two US allies.
After the meeting, the IDF issued a statement saying the remarks that
Israeli Maj. Gen. Avi Mizrahi had made on Tuesday did not reflect
Israel’s official view.
Turkish officials were not immediately available for comment to
respond to the Israeli military’s statement.
Turkey’s foreign ministry summoned Israeli Ambassador Gabby Levy to
ask for an urgent explanation over comments that Mizrahi had made on
Tuesday at a military base in Israel. Turkish media said Mizrahi had
accused Turkey of killing Armenians in 1915, and of oppressing Kurds
and occupying Cyprus.
Turkey has long been Israel’s closest ally in the Muslim world, and it
has worked hard to try to mediate for peace in the Middle East, along
with Egypt and France.
Mizrahi’s remarks concerned very sensitive issues in Turkey and
angered its government.
They apparently were made in response to Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan who had sharply reprimanded President Shimon Peres over
civilian casualties during the Gaza war at the World Economic Forum in
Davos, Switzerland.
"While referring to the criticism of Israel by Turkey, Gen. Mizrahi
made statements that could be interpreted as criticism of Turkey’s
past," said a statement by Brig. Gen. Avi Benayahu, spokesman for the
Israel Defense Forces. "The IDF spokesperson wishes to clarify that
this is not the official position of the IDF."
Turkey’s foreign ministry issued a statement calling Mizrahi’s remarks
"baseless" and saying they contained "unacceptable allegations and
ravings" and that they were "directed against our prime minister."
Turkey’s Radikal newspaper reported Saturday that Mizrahi also
responded to Erdogan’s call that Israel should be barred from the
United Nations by saying that Turkey should be barred as well.
The Turkish military said Mizrahi’s remarks "deviate from the truth
and cannot be accepted under any condition" and "can harm national
interests between the two countries," underlining the importance
relations between the two countries.
The Turkish military’s harsh reaction on Saturday reflected its deep
uneasiness, given its close defense ties with Israel. They include
training agreements and Turkish defense purchases from Israel worth
hundreds of millions of dollars.