Turkish military says ties with Israel may be harmed

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Turkish military says ties with Israel may be harmed​

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey on Saturday called on Israel to explain reported remarks by the head of the Israeli army that questioned Turkish policies towards Kurds and Cyprus, saying ties between the Middle East allies could be at stake.

The Turkish military's General Staff said criticism by Israeli Major General Avi Mizrahi, the land forces commander, of Turkey's occupation of Cyprus and its conflict with Kurdish separatists may have damaged strategic relations.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry also summoned the Israeli ambassador to protest the comments by Mizrahi, reported by Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

It was the latest sign of tension between Israel and Turkey, NATO's only Muslim member, who maintain close military ties but whose alliance has been strained by Israel's offensive on Gaza.

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan last month accused Israeli President Shimon Peres of "knowing very well how to kill" in a public debate at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Mizrahi was quoted by Haaretz newspaper as saying Erdogan should have "looked in the mirror" before slamming Peres and that Turkey was not in a position to criticise Israel's occupation of Palestinian lands when it stations troops in northern Cyprus.

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

The Turkish General Staff, in a statement carried by the state-run Anatolian news agency, said Mizrahi's remarks were untrue and competely 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 co-operation includes allowing Israeli jets to use Turkish airspace for training.

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

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday it had summoned Israeli Ambassador Gabby Levy to receive a protest note that called Mizrahi's remarks "unacceptable imputations and ravings made against our prime minister and our country".

Both the General Staff and the Foreign Ministry demanded an explanation for Mizrahi's statements from Israeli officials.

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

It has also fought a 25-year war against Kurdish separatists seeking to establish a homeland in the southeast. Turkey denies accusations that it committed genocide against 1.5 million Armenians during World War One.

Turkish military says ties with Israel may be harmed