News
Jews in Turkey fear attacks
Carmel Gat
Published: 18.02.11, 00:23
Comment Comment
Print comment Print comment
Back to article
59 Talkbacks for this article
31. #2 Hey Xoxol
Joav ,   Germany   (02.18.11)
Myself commong out of you country and we jews from this country do not forget and not forgive how you massacre jews civilians by Kozaks or during WW2. How much ukranian nazis joined SS and executed jews in you home town Kiev in BABIY YAR. A thousands were executed. Ukraine was always antisimitic and blame jews for everything what its going wrong. All Ukranian politicans are "jews" or sell the country to the "Jews". So Xoxol just look in a mirrow before blame us for something
32. Jews should leave Turkey, I think its better for them
Joav ,   Germany   (02.18.11)
Thank to haShem, we have our Land again and our brothers and sisters in Turkey have a place or better to say Home wich doors are always open for them, where they can be, what they are JEW. The U.S. or Canada is also alternative, or come to Germany you re wellcome.
33. I am a jew from Istanbul
Dogan Cakmak ,   Istanbul   (02.18.11)
I am jew and living Istanbul, so, my comments will be much more objective than all others. First of all we are not under a great pressure and we don't have any problem to go any kind of social activity. We are working as we work before. Actually the government right now is the best one among the others for giving right to the minorities. Turkey became a home for Jewish people for 500 years while others were tortured killed and exiled in Christian countries. Turkish jewish people were also always loyal to the country. The main problem in Turkey is the relationship with Israel. When the hatred against Israel is rising here, it is automatically increasing the antisemitism either. Most of the people do not make any discrimination between Israel and the Jews and then we also have a problem. As I said before there is not any problem right now, but because of the high tensions everybody has a fear that something bad can happen any time. I also think that it is not fair to accuse all Turks because there are really very cultured and good people among them. According to my point of view what will happen in the future is related how the relationship with Turkey and Israel will be.
34. LMAO @ Joav Germany!
(02.18.11)
Why would the Turkish Jews want to go there? So that they could continue to live amongst murderous Turks who immigrated 2 your country as migrant workers in the past 30 years! I mean really Yoav/Joab you are too funny!
35. not true
loco ,   tel aviv-israel   (02.18.11)
i ve been talked with a lot of jewish from turkey now.there is nothing like this.Everybody are in the streets and etc... Not true at all!!
36. truth
anton ,   istanbul turkey   (02.18.11)
Mr mercahnts exagration is obvious he spoke like israeli goverments officials rubbish jews are okey here and always will be i cant say same thing for the jews of israel considering their behaviour and its consequencess for years to come
37. Better In Israel My Fellow Jews
Noah Lev ,   HollywoodUSA   (02.18.11)
At first I felt pity for the hapless Jews in Turkey..afraid to venture out their own street. But with a little thought, I ask, why are they still in Turkey, is it similar to Jews in Germany prior to WW2, all business? Does Turkey bar them from leaving, like Iran? Jews in Venezuela also cry a lot. Is their situation simlar. They have a place to go now, unlike WW2. Turkey has 70m people, and many Turks are anti-Israel, so what else is new? Nu, get out now, before they lock you in, and others lock you out, for the final jihad against you. Sell your belongings.and book a flight out. Help your people by leaving, dont help our enemies by staying. Admit you should have left long ago.
38. Jews must leave terrorist Turkey for Israel.
Lee ,   Manchester UK   (02.18.11)
Turkey is circling the edge of a very dark abyss - by Jews leaving this terror sponsoring state Turkey will fall into said abyss much quicker. Help them on by leaving forever without looking back.
39. #34 LMAO/ Hu Jin Tau
Joav ,   Germany   (02.18.11)
You better read the article again. There are no Turkish Jews, but Jews from Turkey believe me this is a huge difference. Germany has large community of jews, after France and Hungary. I do not post that the Jews from Turkey must go to Germany or Israel, I posted they have now, in ourdays CHOICE where they can go. If they wanna stay in Turkey, then its their decision but if they decided to leave, then they are wellcome. Thats the point. Turkey is not demokratic state and a futher perspective for jews in this country, just sitting home without going out, because of fear be attacked by moslems is a shame of Turkish state.
40. Get Out Get Out Get Out Get Out
Harvey ,   London   (02.18.11)
What the hell are you waiting for .Like the Jews in pre war Nazi Germany or the Jews who lived as Dhimmi in Arab lands ,you believe it cannot happen as good assimilated folk. Well history proves it can. Dont wait till they steal your property and businesses and maybe your lives. Are you waiting for the first Pogroms . They are what they are and nothing will change that . Live among your own people where you can hold your head high . In a generation the rest of Jewish Europe will have caught up with you.
41. Palidov # 2 Kiev
harveygarfield21@aol ,   London   (02.18.11)
My grandparents escaped the Kiev Pogroms coming to England in the late 1900s. It seems you are living up to the expectations of your ancestors . Before you talk massacres , take a long hard look at Russias' involvement in Chechyna . There is barely a house remaining intact in Grozny where over 100,000 civilians were murdered by the Russian Army . Maybe you should address that before coming here to spread your lies and propaganda
42. #24 What Logic?
solomon ,   bklyn   (02.18.11)
As in your first post (#2), you have it backwards. Turkey had to show it was boss in it's relationship with Israel? Point well taken. But they were already doing that; getting closer to Iran, disparaging Israel at every opportunity. But by sending a boat with a gang of thugs to break a blockade? TURKEY was the spoiled brat, trying to show the world that the game had to be played by it's, not international, rules. The flotilla was NOT necessary for Turkey; it was pushing the envelope in a way unacceptable to Israel. And TURKEY has continued in this direction, by lying about what happened although the truth has been seen on the computer screen. Israel is to accept an unfriendly and warlike act because it is "necessary" for another country? Yeah, right.
43. Ukraine: Same shit
Zhid ,   New York, US   (02.18.11)
To Palidov: Looks like Ukrainians are still same anti-semitic assholes as they were for decades now. Keep up the good job in representing that reputation.
44. @#29,31,42,43: I beg to differ. I think Mr. Padilov has
Bat Zion ,   Central Israel   (02.18.11)
learned quite a bit here in the past few days, and you all know we can answer all his claims. I don't consider him a troll, only uninformed. Please come and talk to us again, Mr. Padilov.
45. Dogan cakmak from Istanbul
David israel ,   new York, USA   (02.18.11)
While I agree with part of what you wrote, I must also say that there is also another side to this matter. (BTW I am originally from Izmir and 61 years old). The Jewish community in Turkey experienced the 1936 Kirklareli pogroms followed by the Varlik and the 20h draft military service where Jewish man were deported to labor camps in Ashkale, Afyon Yozgat etc. inj 1941 way before there was an Israeli state and a conflict in the ME. Therefore anti-semitism in Turkey exist and it is deeply rooted in part of the Turkish society. Based on the combined vote base of AKP and Erbakan's party this is more than half of Turkey. In 1955 (which I vaguely remember) Jews were attacked in Turkey (Istanbul Izmir and Bursa) on September 6-7 incidents. The reason was not the ME issue. It was a rumor that someone had put fire at Ataturk's birth place in Salonika Greece. And yet Jews were targeted in that incident. The false news was fabricated by the DP government of the time. As a conclusion I can say that the ME conflict is only an excuse to attack Jews by the Turkish extremists. On the other hand there is a great modern friendly educated kind sector of the Turkish community also with which the Turkish Jews interact, but Turkey is not made only by them unfortunately.
46. Why are these Turks carrying a green flag
David Israel ,   New York, USA   (02.18.11)
with Arabic writings on it? Isn't there a glorious Turkish Flag with a white crescent and star over a red background? Are these protesters Turk or Arab? Are they loyal to Turkey or some other cause?
47. another Istanbul opinion
Dan ,   Istanbul, Turkey   (02.18.11)
On Nov.15, 2003, 2 synagogues were carbombed in Istanbul. I remember very well because I lived in a neighboring building and narrowly survived. 30 or so people, mostly passers-by, were killed. Many may recall that the Iraq war was new at the time, and in fact some of the bombers were connected to contemporaneous bombings in Iraq. So I back up the previous poster who noted the relationship between danger for Turkey's Jews and international incidents and currents. I must also say that most Israeli and US and UK posters seem to only know Turkey through the media. Believe me, people here are quite concerned about Erdogan and the AKP, but civil society and secularism here are much more resilient than it may appear. Though AKP will win again in the coming elections, Erdogan is already looking tired, and the public is growing less tolerant of him and AKP. It will be another cycle or two, but the tide is close to cresting or has crested already, and not without some damage and incidents, but the secularists will have outlasted them when the smoke clears in 2015 or 2020. Among them will be Turkey's Jews, still here, many in prominent positions of leadership in business and social society just as today.
48. Dan from Istanbul
David Israel ,   New York, USA   (02.18.11)
The good thing about the current Turkish politics now is that unlike 1960 the military is not taking over. )After the 1060 coup Adnan Menderes became an idol to his followers). If at the end as you mentioned, AKP slowly vanishes from the Turkish politics it would be the best. My fear is that before something like that happens, a more radical extremist and totalitarian regime might end all of these hopes. When we see what AKP did to the constitution, taking control of the Judiciary and high courts, in addition to the power that they already had over the Universities and the Media Radio and TV control (RTUK) I fell like Erdogan's famous democracy bus is slowly but surely approaching to its destination and I suspect they already have plans about when and how to get off that democracy bus. Shabat Shalom Dan
49. Turkish Jews
Ayla Akman ,   Turkey   (02.18.11)
There is nothing to fear! Turkish Jews are part of Turkey and will continue to be part of Turkey! As for such protestors they are a minority which stick out like a sore thumb which is why some may feel concerned. However, I myself feel there is nothing to fear! It is not the first time we have had people in Turkey justifying their deviant behaviour in the name of a relgious pursuit! Why allow them to take the lead? Did Ataturk allow such bigots to take the lead when Turkey was falling apart? NO HE DID NOT! SO STAY WHERE YOU ARE! There is no need to up-root yourselves unless of course you wish to migrate to Israel as you see it has your true homeland (that is different).
50. Unlike Religio-Fascist Israel ...
Levo ,   Turkey   (02.18.11)
Turkey is a Pluralistic Democracy where people may express their sentiment regarless of whether we like it or not!
51. Turkey And Israel
Greg Gevorg DerGales ,   Encino, CA, USA   (02.19.11)
Armenian Genocide Survivor of 1915,Pursuing Implementation of Peace Treaty of Sevres-France, 10 AUG.1920, And USA Great President Woodrow Wilson's Arbitration Decision of 22 NOV. 1920 ; http://wilsonforarmenia.org/
52. hami koc
yoyo ,   istanbul turkey   (02.19.11)
this is what i call disillusion at it's best! turkey is democratic, huh? police just beat up a pregnant woman becasue she was peacefully demonstarting in the center of istanbul, by kicking her belly and killing her unborn baby. she was then accused for being pregnant out of wed lock. you are funny when you say turkish people have more freedom than israeli and american people. you probably have some kind of a psychiatric problem. i'm sorry to break it to you. i am a nominally muslim turk in istanbul. two days after the flotilla incident, the wall facing the caddebostan synagogue had a big writing on it " we are all hitlers" and that grafitti satyed on that wall for two weeks, Turkish police was happy to keep it on the wall. Today they will attack to Turkish Jews, tomorrow it will be my turn, a secular Turk! There is one Islam, and it wants our blood!
53. Sn Ayla Akman and Levo
David Israel ,   New York, USA   (02.19.11)
1. Ataturk indeed did not allow those bigots in 1927 when they beheaded Lieutenant Kubilay in Menemen in 1927. All those bloody black robed Mullahs were brought to trial and executed. However today the remnants of the same Mullahs are running Turkey dressed in suits and ties (While Bulent Arinc apparently still dresses in Islamic garb in the privacy of his home in Manisa) . And Levo; in a country where journalists such as mustafa Balbay and Tuncay Ozkan and many more are put into Silivri jail with no charges against them add to them professor Dr. Haberal and thousands of other political detainees in Silivri (many of them have been there for about 2 years now) you can not talk about "pluralistic democracy" . Please don't fool yourself. Even in Pakistan when Musarref wanted to pass legislation to control the judiciary branch the bar associations revolted and brought Musarref down. In Turkey you could not even be like Pakistan, Where are the Turkish secularists and modernists when the police is beating the university students when they raise their voice? Wher wee they when a pregnant protestor was beaten until she had a miscarriege?
54. Israel is a humane country!
Karen ,   Canada   (02.20.11)
@ # 2 That is completely false. Muslims have killed more civilians than any other country. Israel sometimes inadvertently kills them when attacking legitimate military targets when civilians are being used as human shields. Thus the blame under international law, resides with their "brothers" who use them as human shields. Muslims fight like cowards behind their children and mothers!!
55. Ataturk's Legacy is Over
Persian Jew ,   New York, NY   (02.20.11)
The Secular establishment founded by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk has finally been toppled by the AKP. They won elections in 2002, 2007, and they are the frontrunners for this year. Its safe to say that the Secular, Democratic and westernized nation Ataturk envisioned is gone forever. But really, who can blame the Turks? After being rejected by the EU they have no other choice but to embrace their own Islamic identity. There are still some Turkish jews left, but the social pressures have gone from modern, secular and European to Religious, conservative and Islamic. The Pork butchers have all been shut down, Alcohol bans are everywhere, more women are wearing headscarves.... These changes are simply irreversible. My advice to the Turkish Jews is the GET THE HELL OUT NOW! All the Persian jews left when they toppled the Shah in 1979. Most went to Beverly HIlls or Great Neck, NY....but all you Turkish Jews should just make Aliyah to Israel. There is no such thing as a "Secular" muslim country. Prime Minister Erdogan said it best "You cannot be muslim and be secular at the same time" And the current state of Turkey is living proof of what the future brings... Pack your bags, your Torah's and suit cases. Hop on the first flight to Tel Aviv and Leave TURKEY NOW!
56. #50. Are you ctually being serious?
Luke   (03.06.11)
57. Jews of Iran
Michael ,   Uruguay   (04.22.11)
to your comment "..left like all the Jews of Iran when the Shah's governemnt fell.." I remind you that today Iran has the largest number of Jewish in the Islamic world, even Jewish (and Christian and Zoarastrian !) members of Iranian parliament. But as long as Erdigan is prime minister all non Sunni Muslims have much to fear. And Turkey, just by its geographical position, is in position to cause great harm to many surrounding states, as well as parts of Europe.
58. Turkey is fading rapidly
Sarah   (04.30.11)
With or without the jews... Turkey is doomed to fall in the hands of rdical islam. That will be the end of the Turkish republic as we know. It will be a cahotic hation where opression, murder, intelorance and chadors will dominate. Not only jews but secular Turks are in dangered. the still dont realize it. too late... Turkey can easily be considered as one of the fundamentalist islamic countries.
59. Islamic dictatorship
Sarah   (04.30.11)
Not only turkey is a dictatorship it is a hypocrite dictatorship. Dreadful.
Previous talkbacks
Back to article