Ankara scolds Israel over Ehud Barak's remarks about intelligence head

Turkey on Monday scolded Israel over Defense Minister Ehud Barak's controversial remarks about Turkey's new top intelligence official. Barak had described National Intelligence Organization (MIT) head Hakan Fidan as "a friend of Iran" and voiced concerns that Israel's secrets will become available to Iran in the next several months. In a swift reaction to the remarks, Israeli Ambassador to Turkey Gabby Levy was summoned to the Foreign Ministry on Monday afternoon. According to a senior diplomat, Levy was told that such remarks concerning a top Turkish official are unacceptable and a clear violation of the international principle of non-interference in the internal and external affairs of states. Prior to his new post, Fidan was a deputy undersecretary in the Prime Ministry.