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Last update - 22:51 14/02/2009
IDF: Officer's criticism of Turkey does not represent official view
By Barak Ravid and Yossi Melman, Haaretz Correspondents, and Reuters
Tags: IDF, Israel news, Turkey 

An Israel Defense Forces spokesperson on Saturday said that IDF Maj. Gen. Avi Mizrahi's recent criticism of Turkey does not reflect the official position of the IDF.

"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, a spokesman for the IDF.
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"The IDF spokesperson wishes to clarify that this is not the official position of the IDF."

Turkey earlier on Saturday called on Israel to explain remarks quoted in Haaretz by Mizrachi that questioned Turkish policies toward Kurds and Cyprus, saying ties between the Middle East allies could be at stake.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry also on Saturday summoned Israeli Ambassador Gabby Levy to protest comments by Mizrahi, commander of Israel's land forces.

Mizrahi was quoted as saying Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan should have "looked in the mirror" before slamming President Shimon Peres last month at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Mizrachi also said that Turkey was not in a position to criticize Israel's actions in the Palestinian territories when it stations troops in northern Cyprus.

He also accused Turkey of repressing its Kurdish minority and massacring Armenians during World War I.

The Turkish military said on Saturday that Mizrachi's criticism threatened to harm relations between the two countries.

The flap was the latest sign of tension between Turkey and Israel, who maintain close military ties but whose alliance has been strained by the Israeli offensive on Gaza.

Erdogan accused Peres of "knowing very well how to kill" in a public debate last month at the World Economic Forum.

The Turkish General Staff, in a statement carried by the state-run Anatolian news agency, said Mizrahi's remarks were completely unacceptable.

"The comments have been assessed to be at the extent that the national interests between the two countries could be damaged," it said.

Turkey and Israel's military cooperation includes allowing Israeli jets to use Turkish airspace for training.

Erdogan told Reuters on Friday there were no plans to halt that agreement.

Turkey keeps about 30,000 troops in northern Cyprus after invading the island in 1974 to thwart a coup attempt by Greek Cypriots. It is the only country to recognize a Turkish Cypriot administration there.

Turkey has also fought a 25-year war against Kurdish separatists seeking to establish a homeland in the southeastern part of the country.

Turkey denies accusations that it committed genocide against 1.5 million Armenians during World War I.

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      1.   Turkeys pot and kettle are black 18:40  |  Alice 14/02/09
      2.   It is not only abject hypocrisy 20:40  |  Robin 14/02/09
      3.   Turkey summons Israel envoy over IDF officer`s criticism Reuters 20:41  |  i love israel 14/02/09
      4.   Turkey summons Israel envoy over IDF officer`s criticism Reuters 20:47  |  i love israel 14/02/09
      5.   finally! 20:51  |  Levent 14/02/09
      6.   Army should stay away from politics!!! 20:52  |  Turk 14/02/09
      7.   Turkey summons Israel envoy over IDF officer`s criticism 20:53  |  steve 14/02/09
      8.   Mr. Erdogan 20:58  |  jenny 14/02/09
      9.   Smart move by the maj. gen. 21:03  |  Tore 14/02/09
      10.   So? Mizrachi was perfectly right! 21:07  |  Chris 14/02/09
      11.   turkey is nothing but a bunch of hypocritical backstabbing 21:13  |  nuttie durston 14/02/09
      12.   hey turkey,how many kurds did you murder last year alone? 21:15  |  prosecutor 14/02/09
      13.   Turkey is being stupid 21:18  |  Joey 14/02/09
      14.   Remarks from Maj. Gen. Avi Mizrachi 21:19  |  Euridice 14/02/09
      15.   Rename Israel: Defensive State of Israel 21:30  |  Seref 14/02/09
      16.   Facts are Facts 21:33  |  Daniel 14/02/09
      17.   Turks are simply a joke 21:33  |  Charles Weinstock 14/02/09
      18.   If Erdogan apologizes then Mizrahi also should 21:42  |  David israel 14/02/09
      19.   and my post? Gone? No good? 21:48  |  S 14/02/09
      20.   So criticism is a one way street? 21:49  |  Christopher 14/02/09
      21.   In other words... 21:53  |  Colin Wright 14/02/09
      22.   Israel bites off nose to spite face once again 21:53  |  Natallie Durson 14/02/09
      23.   Keep Generals out of Politics-Right does not necessarily = Smart 21:53  |  AN Israeli 14/02/09
      24.   two wrongs 22:10  |  truth 14/02/09
      25.   Kudos to the Maj. General - all he said is true! 22:14  |  Kenny 14/02/09
      26.   Mizrachi is a General and not a politician 22:22  |  Chris Linthwaite 14/02/09
      27.   Jenny 22:41  |  ricardo levy 14/02/09
      28.   Turkish invasion of Cyprus did not try to "thwart" the coup 22:47  |  Realist 14/02/09
      29.   Price of Rice and Cyprus 22:59  |  Murat 14/02/09
      30.   The difference 23:00  |  Axel 14/02/09
      31.   Another spineless Israeli (in)action 23:05  |  Jason 14/02/09
      32.   IDF: Officer`s criticism of Turkey does not represent official vi 23:10  |  Paul 14/02/09
      33.   Are the Israelis masochists?!! 23:15  |  Abecassis 14/02/09
      34.   Go Forward Not Back 23:20  |  Baruch Gold 14/02/09
      35.   realist 9 23:28  |  potobac 14/02/09
      36.   Alleged Armenian Genocide 23:36  |  Kemal Gül 14/02/09
      37.   Turkey 23:40  |  sofa 14/02/09
      38.   It is not the official view but it is still true 23:50  |  Realist 14/02/09
      39.   we have the right to answer 23:57  |  mike 14/02/09
      40.   Actually it DOES represent the POPULAR view 00:07  |  Alain 15/02/09
      41.   Hurts huh Turkey? 00:07  |  Yannis 15/02/09
      42.   TORE Typical! Only one way criticism of Israel is acceptable 00:07  |  PETER SM 15/02/09
      43.   Turn off the water tap Turkey. 00:08  |  Maureen Ann 15/02/09
      44.   IDF: Officer`s criticism of Turkey does not represent official vi 00:11  |  Okan 15/02/09
      45.   TURQUIE 00:14  |  benn 15/02/09
      46.   Avi Mizrahi. 00:15  |  sandra chitayat 15/02/09
      47.   A Turk has no other friend that his own. 00:21  |  jujun 15/02/09
      48.   IDF Maj. Gen. Avi Mizrahi`s recent criticism of Turkey 00:22  |  Ishaq Sahhar 15/02/09
      49.   Gen. Mizrachi said the truth. 00:22  |  Jhon 15/02/09
      50.   Turkey`s record 00:23  |  roger 15/02/09
      51.   Armenians and Kurds don`t have oil 00:39  |  Raphael 15/02/09
      52.   Gen Mizrachi, future MK 00:39  |  toni 15/02/09
      53.   israel must be silently 00:43  |  burak coşkun 15/02/09
      54.   A Turk has no other friend that his own 00:48  |  jujun 15/02/09
      55.   Hats off to Mizrahi 00:50  |  Vish 15/02/09
      56.   Avi Mizrahi`s recent criticism 00:51  |  john 15/02/09
      57.   Turkey under Islam 00:51  |  herb glatter 15/02/09
      58.   respect to general Mizrahi 01:09  |  Ivan Kelmer 15/02/09
      59.   Erdogan do not speak for me 01:12  |  Musti 15/02/09
      60.   Turkish troops on Cyprus 01:23  |  realist too 15/02/09
      61.   To realist: 01:29  |  Orhan 15/02/09
      62.   Turkey summons Israeli ambassador 01:34  |  American 15/02/09
      63.   General Mizrahi on Erdogan 01:44  |  Ron 15/02/09
      64.   General Mizrahi would get more votes than Barak 01:53  |  Sidney 15/02/09
      65.   # 13 herb 02:24  |  Axel 15/02/09
      66.   JUJUN - Turks have many friends but they don`t know how to keep t 02:40  |  David Israel 15/02/09
      67.   "Axel" 03:21  |  Col [res] Cohen 15/02/09
      68.   critique of Turkish gov. 03:54  |  Karadajian 15/02/09
      69.   Keep up the good work US Jews! 04:00  |  Faith 15/02/09
      70.   Turkey is America?s trusted and the only dependable ally in ME 04:13  |  American in NY 15/02/09
      71.   Shhh! 04:33  |  Jeff Northridge 15/02/09
      72.   Axel (#37) 05:27  |  Morris Valentine 15/02/09
      73.   Musti - I Am with you 05:30  |  David Israel 15/02/09
      74.   Orhan - If IDF did not defend against Hamas 05:32  |  David Israel 15/02/09
      75.   Axe, 20 children were severly hurt 05:35  |  David israel 15/02/09
      76.   MAUREEN Actually Israel desalinates sea water 05:47  |  PETER SM 15/02/09
      77.   AMERICAN IN NY then you had better tell the US to leave Saudis 05:53  |  PETER SM 15/02/09
      78.   OKAN There were no problems till Islamist Edrogan came along. 06:05  |  PETER SM 15/02/09
      79.   "AMERICAN" in NY till the Islamist Edrogan regime came al.ong 06:08  |  PETER SM 15/02/09
      80.   Mizrachi and the Necessity of Hypocrisy 06:14  |  Gordon 15/02/09
      81.   #PeterSM. Sea water desalination. 07:41  |  Maureen Ann 15/02/09
      82.   I think Mr Avi Mirzahi`s opnion .. 11:03  |  loyalfriend 15/02/09
      83.   # 72 mv 11:30  |  Axel 15/02/09
      84.   Maureen Anne - sloganeering again 11:39  |  Magpie 15/02/09
      85.   magpie 12:22  |  Axel 15/02/09
      86.   Who will ? 12:27  |  Sailor 15/02/09
      87.   No More Hipocrisy 12:41  |  Nicolas 15/02/09
      88.   No More Hipocrisy 12:41  |  Nicolas 15/02/09
      89.   Who will? to the sailor 13:05  |  loyalfriend 15/02/09
      90.   TurkishInvasion ofCyprusdidnottry to"thwart" the coup: to Realist 13:14  |  loyalfriend 15/02/09
      91.   #81 Maureen Ann - you expert in sea water desalination??? 4th try 13:23  |  S 15/02/09
      92.   What is the debate here? Is it ...... 13:41  |  loyalfriend 15/02/09
      93.   To David israel 13:42  |  Fatih 15/02/09
      94.   Orhan 61 from Ankara: Israel has the same rights as Turkey 14:58  |  Realist 15/02/09
      95.   To Axel (#83) 18:49  |  Morris Valentine 15/02/09
      96.   To S (#91): Sadly ... 18:58  |  Morris Valentine 15/02/09
      97.   To steve from new york 20:28  |  Ibrahim 15/02/09
      98.   General Mizrahi 20:39  |  George 15/02/09
      99.   to Realist 10:45  |  real realist 16/02/09
      100.   Gordon 11:00  |  Altaic 16/02/09
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