Israeli-Turkish relations tense as Erdogan says Qassams don't kill

[Behind the Aegis]

Relations between Israel and Turkey have become very tense in the last two days, after Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed that no Israelis have been killed by Qassam missiles, while every Israel Defense Forces attack in the Gaza Strip kills dozens of Palestinians.

Senior Foreign Ministry officials Wednesday issued a protest to Turkey's ambassador to Israel, Namik Tan, and requested clarifications of Erdogan's remarks.

"Israel is very disappointed by Erdagan's statements in light of the friendly relations between the two countries. ... Israel expects a different response from a state that itself is fighting terror," a senior Foreign Ministry official told Tam, in conveying the official protest.

In addition, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is expected to speak to her Turkish counterpart, Ali Babacan, and a phone conversation between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Erdogan is being contemplated.

Senior sources in Jerusalem expressed anger about Erdogan's comments.

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[subsuelo]

1. not quite what he said, though - according to the article

excerpt from the article reads:

When we ask (our Israeli colleagues) how many Israeli citizens died as a result of these rocket attacks, we do not get an answer

Was there more to it somewhere?