Islamic Lands by discovering oil where on the verge of superpower status .By not taking in the Jews of Europe En Masse with all those future Scientists and Technicuans as well as the Sharp Traditionalists Islam lost its opportunity .But is still not too late.

alot of what you say may be true and conditions there were much better than in Christian Eutrope. However, Jews were always looked at as second class citizens and still are in evry Muslim country (in those that do not exclude them completely). And since the founding of Israel things have gotten much worse, It appears that islam can not abide a Jewish state in the Middle East.

Hovering above the "politics" between the two countries, the article is an encouraging manifest regarding the special relations between the two peoples. We should wish and trust that the future will not be less glorious than the past. Much love to all our Turkish friends.

i wouldnt have expected an op ed like this from this guy he is an oppurtunist and has his own agenda regarding religion most of what he said is true but i feel the reason underneath of this piece is money related

...Bascalan Erdogan's obvious hate for the Jews and Israel? It wold have been helpful to read your thoughts about that.

Ottoman Turkish history is littered with massacres of Jews. Just in the 19th century, Istanbul 1870, 1874 Jews massacred, Buyukdere 1864 Jews massacred, Kuzguncuk 1866 Jews massacred, Eyub 1868 Jews massacred, Edirne 1872 Jews massacred, Izmir 1872, 1874 Jews massacred. Let's not forget what prompted the Jews to leave Turkey in the 1950s, the anti Greek riots that quickly targeted Jews... The present day antisemitism of Turks is deeply rooted. The enlightened views of many Ottoman rulers should not be confused or conflated to be representative of the broader Turkish populace.

The same way that we remember the evil done to us in various countries across the centuries, we also must not forget the good done to us . There must be hope after all that not all is lost with the Muslim world..May be.

The Jewish People truly owe a debt to the Turkish People and their past leaders who allowed a safe haven in the Ottoman Empire, while other Countries persecuted them. However, today under Erdogan's leadership, his policies seem more in line with the Terrorist and Extremists in Iran and elsewhere which act to harm America, Israel and the Jewish People. We do not forget that Hezbollah killed US Marines in Lebanon and Iran murdered civilians in Argentina

"while those who went to North Africa suffered heavy death tolls due to the unforgiving climate." Is that what you call it when the women are raped and along with the children sold into slavery? and the men executed as the Jewish community could not raise the ransoms demanded? Yes... a very unforgiving climate... that had nothing to do with the weather.

He is an ultra Islamist. If you check the Internet for Harun Yahya you will see nothing but anti Semitizm and anti free masons. Although we Tutkish Sephardi are grateful for it, ottomans did not welcome the Iberic Jews out of their goodness. They saw this as an opportunity to balance the Greek majority on the lands they concourred. In WW II those brave Turkish diplomats saved some lives on their own initiative while the Turkish government at home was passing the Varlik Vergidi tax law and a special military draft confiscating all assets from Jews and sending men to labor camps in Askale Afyon and Yozgat. There were pogrpms in Kirklareli. While a few very well educated German professors were given refuge hundred of Jews stranded in the Struma was sent back to the Black Sea to their death by a Russian torpedo.

Everything responds to its true nature therefore Islam can never be a superpower but a super fraud.

great history I didnt know, and I look forward seeing normal relations between turkey and israel

Is sound good but far from reality today. Turkey will show its colors when pride and lust for power in quest for Islamic leadership. They will used and con Israeli for its benefits in economy and hopefully military technology. Israel don't be a fool, you cannot make mistake in order to survive into the 21st Century. God of AIJ bless Israel and Jerusalem! (end)

We recently saw the Blair sponsored Conference on Palestinian Economic prospects We would go further With all the international resources at our disposal, the huge skill and entrepreneurial base and financial muscle of the Palestinian Diaspora could catapult Palestine in the West Bank into a top 50 Economy in two decades China did it in less! Now for the reality check For that we need Peace and Stability, good and productive relations with our neighbours, Free Trade access to Israel, EU and Arab Markets and once and for all a complete final and PERMANENT end to hostilities and conflict with Israel So...what are we waiting for and when do we start

Thank you , esteemed Dr.Oktar for the kindness and the memories . Turkiye has a very important role in the region and the world . Mustafa Kemal ATATURK always was and always will be a beacon on the hill for me, sir. Selamlarla, David Lott

Adnan Oktar has written or championed a number of books against the Jews. One in particular called Soykırım Yalanı denies the Holocaust and presents it as "the death of some Jews due to the typhus plague during the war". He also wrote a book called Judaism and Freemasonry which suggests that "the principal mission of Jews and Freemasons in Turkey was to erode the spiritual, religious, and moral values of the Turkish people and, thus, make them like animals." He is also an Islamist who refutes the Theory of Evolution. The Anti-Defamation League described him as "an anti-Semitic Turkish writer whose articles demonize Jews who support Israel as "godless" and blames them for committing atrocities." I find it so hypocritical that he comes here and writes this article now! He is no better than this other Jew hater called Recep Tayyip Erdogan!

That gang is not a very Jew loving group. They vie with Iran to see who hates Israel more BTW Jews did not go from Spain and Portugal to England.They were only admitted in time of Cromwell in 1650s or so

Adnan Hoca is not friend of Jews nor Israel. read his many older publications about Jews and Free Masons you will see. The well educated modern secular democratic Turks are the friends that israel and Jews need not Adnan Oktar or AKP or Fethullah Gulen. They may say things that you may like when they most need Jews and Israel but deep in their hearts they are ultra Islamist YOBAZ who hate all non Muslims.

The Jews and Turks are each great peoples and natural friends and really have a lot to offer... Too bad Erdogan and Netanyahu have such big hard heads. Each country deserves better and would fair much better electing a nice guy like Obama..

Baloneeee. Erdogan hates Israel and Jew. Do we have to grovel to him because the Sultan saved the Jews 500 years ago?

Love & compassion from the Ottoman empire?????? That historical by-word for imperial oppression & rotting decline? The Jews were ALWAYS viewed as nothing more than industrious, servile inferiors to be taxed & exploited to the hilt. Bloody absurd to try and put a gloss of "friendship" & "brotherhood" on that portion of history, Oktar. No one outside of Turkey buys into that kind of gentle whitewash of the Ottoman centuries.

Turkey and Israel relations will be good again..many Turks as me love jewish people and cooperation with Israel against iran historical enemy to Turks.i hope erdoğan will understand one day

The author clearly lives in a different Turkey to me...growing emigration amongst the community is caused by growing anti Jewish sentiment. Even as a foreigner, I have heard many comments. And, just remember how hard it is to get into a shul here...

every day.

Politics aside despite the political ups and downs, TODAY - the reality is - the natural warmth and empathy Jewish and Turkish Communities have the world over is very much alive and well! Perhaps the Political Leaderships may learn a thing or two?