Israel says Turkish PMs criticism endanger ties

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel issued an unprecedentedly strong condemnation of Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan on Monday, saying his often fierce public criticism of its policies could undermine bilateral relations.
Turkey, a predominantly Muslim but secular country, is a key ally of Israel but ties have frayed since the Gaza war a year ago, which killed some 1,400 Palestinians and drew censure from Erdogan, head of the Islamist-rooted AK party.
Hosting Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri in Ankara, Erdogan criticised an Israeli attack that killed three Gazan militants on Sunday, and suggested Western scrutiny on Irans nuclear plans was unfair given Israels assumed atomic arsenal.
Israel is careful to respect Turkey and seeks continued proper ties between the countries, but we expect reciprocity, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement, calling Erdogans remarks an unbridled tongue-lashing.
The State of Israel has the full right to protect its citizens from the missiles and terror of Hamas and Hezbollah, and the Turks are the last who can preach morality to the State of Israel and the Israel Defence Force (military).