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Turkey demands Israel explain general’s remarks | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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ANKARA, Turkey (AP) – Turkey’s foreign ministry has protested to Israel over a senior Israeli general’s remarks criticizing Turkey.

The ministry says it summoned Israeli Ambassador Gabby Levy on Saturday to discuss comments made Feb. 10 by Israel’s Maj. Gen. Avi Mizrahi. Turkish media says the Israeli general accused Turkey of massacring Armenians, oppressing Kurds and occupying Cyprus.

Turkey’s military says the remarks “cannot be accepted under any condition” and “can harm national interests between the two countries.”

The general’s remarks were an apparent response to Turkey’s prime minister, who scolded Israeli President Shimon Peres over the Gaza war at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.