[edit]In modern Turkey
[edit]Sources of anti-Semitism
The main ideological sources of anti-Semitism in Turkey are Islamism, left-wing anti-Zionism and nationalism. Turkish intellectuals have always been pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel in their stance. Discussions of Middle East conflict in Turkey often turns into an anti-Semitic propaganda.[6]
[edit]Islamist anti-Semitism
A Turkish specialist on inter-ethnic and inter-religious relations,[31] Rifat Bali (born Rifat N. Bali) and other sources said that the Jews who converted to Islam are portrayed by the Turkish Islamists as an alien group and their loyalty is questioned. The Islamists used to call "Shabbethaians" not only the Jews who converted to Islam, but also used it to name liberals, democrats, anti-clericals and socialists.[6][32][33][34] For instance, the Great Eastern Islamic Raiders' Front (Turkish Islami Buyukdogu Akincilar Cephesi), a radical Islamist terrorist organization established in 1984, that advocates the expulsion from the Turkish political life of every Jewish and Christian presence.[35]
According to researchers at the Tel Aviv University, the Islamic Welfare Party was a major source of anti-Semitism in Turkey until 1997. According to the researchers, the leaders, including former Prime Minister Erbakan have shown a very negative attitude towards Israel, and used anti-Semitic expressions. In February 1997, the Turkish Embassy in Washington was protested against the anti-Semitic statements made by Turkish officials in the media, especially in connection with an article published in the Welfare Party's Milli Gazete. The article cited:[36]
"... a snake was created to express its poison, just as a Jew was created to make mischief."
In 1997, the secular parties came to the power in Turkey and the influence of the Welfare Party has decreased significantly.[36]
However, in 2003 when Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a leader of the Justice and Development Party, become Prime Minister of Turkey, it marked the rapid Islamisation of Turkey together with the strengthening of anti-Israeli rhetoric. After the Israeli operation Cast lead in the Gaza Strip and with the appointment of new Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in 2009, the same policy has been adapted by the Turkish foreign policy-makers.[37][38]
Several sources point that the conflict over Freedom Flotilla on 31 May 2010 was deliberately instigated by Turkish politicians in order to aggravate the relations with Israel for the sake of domestic and foreign policy gains.[39][40][41]
[edit]Anti-Israel and anti-Zionist sentiments among left-wing
Left-wing representatives of the Turkish intellectuals tend to view Israel as an instrument of U.S. expansion in the Middle East. The Middle East conflict viewed through the prism of their support for those "oppressed by imperialism", namely the Palestinians. This tradition has remained since the 1970s, when some of the extreme left-wing Turks joined Palestine Liberation Organization or received military training at their camps, some of them were killed in a confrontation with Israel as members of the organization, others later returned to Turkey.
Turkish-Jewish scholar, Rifat Bali, assessing the Turkish left-wing, say that for them Zionism - is an aggressive ideology that promotes anti-Semitism. In a special issue of left-wing magazine Birikim in 2004, it has been asserted that anti-Semitism and Zionism - are two sides of one coin, "Jewish conscience was captured by Israel" and all efforts should be made for the destruction of Israel in its present form.[6]
[edit]The nationalist anti-Semitism and neo-Nazism
At the end of March 2005 the attention of Western media towards Turkey has been drawn due to the fact that the book of Adolf Hitler "Mein Kampf" (Kavgam), as reported by the network of D&R, for the first two months of 2005 has taken the 4th place as the best-selling book in Turkey. Its low price (4.5 US dollars) made it affordable and hit for high sales, from 50 to 100 thousand copies of the book were sold. The Turkish authorities withdrawn the book from sales.[42][43][44][45] Political scientist Dogu Ergil (Dogu Ergil) said on that occasion that "Nazism, buried in Europe, is being renaissanced in Turkey."[46]
Columnist of the Istanbul newspaper Hurriyet Hadi Ulengin (Hadi Uluengin) wrote in February 2009 about the "new nationalist" (not religious) anti-Semitism.)[47]
Turkish nationalists subjected to fierce criticism the government's plan to provide to an Israeli company a long-term lease of section of the Turkish land on the border with Syria in return for an expensive operation on de-mining of that section (which, after joining to the Mine Ban Treaty, Turkey was obliged to undertake until 2014). Opposition arguments on the inadmissibility of investment of the "Jewish finance" were commented by Prime Minister Erdogan as "fascist" and as a "phobia towards minorities and foreigners."[48]
In June 2010, during one of the anti-Israel demonstrations, protestors have used Nazi symbols and slogans which glorified Adolf Hitler.[49]
[edit]Anti-Semitic propaganda
[edit]Anti-Semitism in books and print media
Before the Israeli operation Cast Lead in Gaza in winter 2008-2009, most of the anti-Semitic manifestations in Turkey were in the print media and books. The researchers at Tel Aviv University noted that many young and educated Turks under the influence of this propaganda were forming a negative attitude towards Jews and Israel, although they have never came across with them.[50]
Some sources say that many anti-Semitic sentiments are being published in Islamist publications such as Vakit and Milli Gazete as well as in ultra Ortadogu and Yenicag. For example, a famous Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk, who is prosecuted for public recognition of the Armenian Genocide in Turkey, has been named by the newspaper Yenicag "a lover of Jews", "the best friend of the Jews" and "servant of the Jews." Also Ortadogu and Yenicag argued that well-known Kurdish leaders Mustafa Barzani and Jalal Talabani are Jews by birth and intend to create a "Greater Israel" under the guise of a Kurdish state. Magazine Vakit wrote that the Mossad and Israel are responsible for laying mines in southeastern Turkey, that is killing Turkish soldiers.[51] Vakit and Milli Gazete published articles that praised Hitler and denied theHolocaust.[33][45][52]
Vakit wrote that the Chief rabbi of Turkey must leave the country because he did not condemn the Israeli operation "Cast Lead". The publications in the media compare Israel to Nazi Germany, and the operation in Gaza to the Holocaust, media puts an equal mark between the words "Jew" and "terrorist". Milli Gazete columnist expressed his desire never to see Jews on the streets of Turkish cities.[33][53]
In Turkey, the anti-Semitic books are published and freely distributed such as "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion", "International Jewry" byHenry Ford and many others, including Turkish authors, who argue in their books that Jews and Israel want to seize power all over the world.[33][54] [55]
[edit]Anti-Semitism in the film and television
In 2006, the film "Valley of the Wolves" episode "Iraq" was screened in Turkey. Many critics regarded it as anti-American and anti-Semitic.[56][57][58] The latter charge is based on the fact that the film has a scene where a Jewish doctor, an employee in the U.S. Army, trades bodies of prisoners of the of Abu Ghraib detention centre.[57][59]
Footage from the Turkish TV show "Ayrilik" ("Farewell") tells a story of love with operation Cast Lead in the background. The footage prompted the Israeli Foreign Ministry in October 2009 to summon the charge d'affaires of Turkey in Israel, D. Ozen[60] to give explanations. Discontents were made as to the scene where the actors depicting Israeli soldiers shoot Palestinian "soldiers" and kill Palestinian girl, as well as to a number of other scenes. The officials of the Israeli Foreign Ministry stated that "the scene, does not have even a remote connection to the reality and depicts the Israeli army as the murderers of innocent children."[1] In Israel, note that this is not a private initiative, since the series was shown on state channel.[61]
In January 2010, after new TV series "Valley of the Wolves: Ambush" was aired in Turkey, the Turkish ambassador to Israel Oguz Chellikol was summoned to the Foreign Ministry of Israel for explanations. The Israel dissatisfaction was a scene where the agents of the Mossad, as performed by the Turkish actors, kidnapped Turkish children and took the Turkish ambassador and his family as hostages.[59][62][63] The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Israel, Danny Ayalon, in a conversation with the Turkish ambassador expressed his opinion that "the scene, similar to the one shown in the series, make life of Jews in Turkey unsafe."[64][65] At that meeting, Ayalon defiantly violated several rules of [[Protocol (diplomacy) |diplomatic etiquette]], that eventually led to diplomatic scandal.[66][67][68] Oguz Chellikol himself condemned the resumption of the said Turkish TV show series.[69]
Attacks on Jews also heard on Turkish television.[45][51] Representatives of the Jewish community in Turkey in early 2009, expressed concern about the anti-Semitic statements that were expressed in a number of television programs.[70]
[edit]Flyers, posters and vandalism
Anti-Jewish incidents after January 2009:[53]
The banners at the press conference of the anti-Israeli Federation Association of Culture Osman Gazi in Eskisehir read: "Dogs allowed, for Jews and Armenians the entrance is closed".[71] In Istanbul the leaflets were posted calling "not to buy at Jewish stores and not serve Jews."[72]
Some billboards in Istanbul had the following text: "You can not be the son of Moses" and "Not in your book", with quotations from the Torahcondemning the killing and with pictures of bloody children's footwear.[33] In Izmir and Istanbul some synagogues have been desecrated by insulting and threatening graffiti.[73][74] The lists with names of famous Jewish physicians were distributed with the call to kill them in retaliation for an operation in Gaza.[53] Lists was compiled and distributed with names of Jewish companies, both local and international toboycott.[53] In June 2010 several Turkish shops put signs reading "We do not accept dogs and Israelis".[9]
[edit]Violence against Jews
In the late 20th - early 21st centuries in Turkey, there were three anti-Jewish terrorist attacks. In all three cases, the militants attacked the main synagogue of Istanbul, Neve Shalom.[75][76]
On 6 September 1986 a terrorist from the Palestinian organization of Abu Nidal shot with a machine gun visitors at Istanbul synagogue Neve Shalom during Sabbath prayers. 22 Jews were killed and 6 were injured.[75][77][78]
On 1 March 1992 the Lebanese terrorist organization Hezbollah threw a hand grenade into the synagogueNeve Shalom. There were no fatalities, by one passer-by was wounded.
On 15 November 2003, suicide bombers using cars exploded near two synagogues in Istanbul in which 25 people were killed and 300 were wounded.[79][80] Islamists have justified their actions by stating that there were "Israeli agents working" in the synagogues. Responsibility for the attacks were claimed by Al-Qaeda and Turkish Islamist organization, the Great Eastern Islamic Raiders' Front. For these attackes the Turkish courts had convicted 48 people who were linked to Al-Qaeda.[81][82][83]
On 21 August 2003, Joseph Yahya, a 35-year-old dentist from Istanbul, was found dead in his clinic. The murderer was arrested in March 2004 and admitted that he killed Yahya out of anti-Semitic motives.[84]
On 6 January 2009 a basketball match at the European Cup between Israeli FC Bnei Hasharon and Turkish Turk Telecom was abrupted by Turkish fans. The fans chanted insulting slogans and tried to throw objects at hand at Israeli athletes. Police defended the Israelis from the attack.[85][86]
Also in January 2009 an attack on Jewish soldier in the Turkish army was reported. The assailant was immediately punished by the commander of the military base. In the same period a number of Jewish students suffered a verbal abuse and physical attacks.[53]
In June 2010, Islamists threatened with violence against Turkish Jews in connection with the Turkish-Israeli conflict over the "Freedom Flotilla".[87]
[edit]Opposition to Anti-Semitism
Direct anti-Semitic actions in Turkey are persecuted by the government. In 2009, the store owner, who posted on its door a banner reading "Entrance for Jews and Armenians Forbiden!" was sentenced to five months in prison.[88] However, the report of the World Jewish Congress, noted that during the operation in Gaza, the Turkish justice system did not pursue anti-Semitic actions of participants and dis not interfere with anti-Semitic incitement.[53]
In October 2004, the socialist Turkish magazine Birikim published a statement entitled "No tolerance for anti-Semitism!" It was signed by 113 well-known Turkish Muslim and non-Muslim intellectuals.[89]
A particularly hostile attitude towards Israel and Jews was reported during Israeli military operation Cast Lead, the Turkish police had to take measures to protect Jewish institutions in Turkey.[53] Many liberal journalists in the newspaper Hurriyet, Milliyet and Vatan published weighted statements, noting that criticism of Israeli policies should not go into hostility towards the Jews.[33] Protection of Jewish institutions in Turkey was reinforced in June 2010 after the incident with the "Freedom Flotilla". Interior Minister Besir Atalay said that the authorities will not allow that Turkish Jews suffer from anti-Israel speeches.[90][91]
Addressing criticism of Israel in connection with the operation in Gaza, Prime Minister Erdogan said at the same time that "anti-Semitism is a crime against humanity".[70][92] On 27 January 2010 at the International Holocaust Remembrance Day Turkish Foreign Ministry announced that Turkey would continue its policy aimed against anti-Semitism, racism, xenophobia and discrimination.[93]
[edit]The mood in Turkish society
According to opinion polls conducted in 2007-2009, the Turkish society has a high level of xenophobia. 64% of Turks do not want to see Jews as their neighbors, 76% has a negative attitude towards Jews, and only 7% is positive.[6]
A reviewer of the left-liberal Turkish daily Radikal, Murat Arman, in 2005 wrote that the situation in Turkey reminds him of 1930 in Germany, where the media often discussed the dominance of Jews in the economy, the assumption about their clandestine activities directed against Germany, and a harmful effect on German society. He believes that this is an extremely dangerous trend, and that such a massive agitation against non-Muslims in Turkey has not been recorded for many years.[45]
In January 2010, Israeli Haaretz published a report prepared by the International Centre for Political Studies at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, which argued that anti-Israeli statements by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan contributed to the growth of anti-Semitism in Turkish society.[94][95]
Turkish Jews are concerned about anti-Semitic sentiments in Turkey, for example, some private shops posted tablets with the inscription "Jews are not allowed".[96] A similar concern is rasied also by American Jewish organizations.[53][56][72][97]
Some experts believe that the growth of anti-Semitism in Turkey is not taking place,[98] but most agree that a number of hazards exist, in particular, the emergence of anti-Semitic posters and attempts to conduct anti-Semitic propaganda in the Turkish schools.[3][20][33][37][53][72][99] IDC Professor Barry Rubin believes that an open advocacy of anti-Semitism in Turkey "is far superior to anything that happens in Europe."[74]
After the raid of Israel on "Freedom Flotilla" off the coast of Gaza, on 31 May 2010, which resulted in the death of 9 Turkish citizens, the Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan said that "Israel must put an end to speculation on Semitism around the world",[100] and Islamist(generally Arab people in Turkey) demonstrators on the anti-Israeli rallies have used anti-Semitic slogans, including phrase "Death to the Jews".[101][102]
The head of the Jewish community in Turkey Silvio Ovadia said that "any anti-Israeli statements can easily turn into a condemnation of Jews in general. Whenever a war breaks out in the Middle East, the anti-Semitism grows throughout the world. He believes that many people are not able to distinguish between Israelis and Jews and transfer the criticism of Israeli policies onto the Turkish citizens of Jewish origin.[11]Rifat Bali, believes that any attempt to resist the growth of anti-Semitic sentiments would lead to the deterioration of the situation, Turkish Jews must either leave, or be prepared to live in a massive anti-Semitic environment.[6]
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