Israeli outcry over Turkish TV drama

JERUSALEM, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- Israel has complained to the Turkish Embassy about a fictional drama aired on a Turkish state television channel depicting atrocities by Israeli soldiers.

The first episode of "Farewell" shown on the government-controlled TRT1 Tuesday portrayed Israeli soldiers as ruthless killers of innocent Palestinians, showing scenes of soldiers killing Palestinian babies and lining Palestinians up before a firing squad, Israeli media reported Thursday.

"This series, which has absolutely no connection to reality and portrays Israeli soldiers as murderers of innocent children, is not fit to be broadcast even in the most hostile countries and certainly not in a country that has full diplomatic relations with Israel," a statement released Wednesday by Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said.

Lieberman, who was on a state visit to Austria, instructed his office to lodge a complaint with the Turkish Embassy and summon the acting ambassador.

Series producer Saljuk Trubanulad told Israel Radio Thursday the murderous soldiers depicted in the show are not Israelis. He said all those involved in the making of the series love the Israeli people.

Haaretz said the series features a love story that develops between leading characters during Israel's military offensive in Gaza early this year. The newspaper said Israeli soldiers are seen shooting Palestinian children in the chest and kicking elderly people to the ground.

Images of Israeli soldiers beating civilians, explosions and Israeli tanks wreaking havoc were also shown, Ynetnews.com said.

In real life, Turkey has been critical of Israel's Cast Lead operation and canceled a joint military exercise that was to have included Israeli personnel.