TURKEY-ISRAEL SHARE VIEWS ON IMPROVING TIES AFTER RECENT FLARE UP

Hurriyet
Feb 24 2009
Turkey

Turkey shared the view of Israel in regard to improvement of relations,
a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Tuesday.

Turkish authorities were evaluating the response of Israel to the
note of Turkey regarding the Israeli Commander of Ground Forces Avi
Mizrahi’s remarks, Burak Ozugergin, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry,
was quoted by Anatolian Agency as telling a press conference.

Israeli Ambassador in Ankara Gabby Levy conveyed the response to
Turkish authorities on Monday and the importance of continuation of
Turkish-Israeli relations was underlined in the response, Ozugergin
told reporters.

Israel’s response of note was sent to the Turkish Prime Ministry and
General Staff, he said.

Israel reiterated Monday in a diplomatic note it delivered to Turkey
that Mizrahi’s harsh remarks relating to Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan
do not represent the official position of the Jewish state.

Mizrahi said earlier this month that Erdogan, who severely criticized
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, "should first look in the mirror",
and accused Turkey of "committing a massacre of Armenians, as well
as suppression of the Kurds".

After Mizrahi’s remarks, Turkey summoned the Israeli ambassador
to the Foreign Ministry and handed a note of protest demanding
clarification, while the military denounced them as "excessive,
unfortunate and unacceptable".

The Israeli army chief telephoned his Turkish counterpart last week
to apologize for Mizrahi’s harsh remarks in an effort to prevent a
deterioration in military relations with Turkey. Israel’s Chief of
General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi also sent an official letter
to the Turkish General Staff regarding the issue.