Turkey is the only country to force through the Israeli navy during Mavi Marmara....... It also trying to wear Israel down demandddddddddddinnnnng Israel to admit guilty!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Superpower? In this case I rather to chose GREAT CHINA! GOD of A,I&J bless Israel n JERUSALEM.

5 years ago when I last visited Izmir they were having a hard time to to have a Minyam at the Beth Israel and the Alsancak synagogs. They were carrying people in a van for the evening services. Are these two synagogs still active? How is the small community surviving? Do they still have the Talmud Torah school and the Jewish hospital in Karatash?

A synagogue was in the old Turkish capital of Brusa by 1326 CE. Much of what Adnan Oktar says on the positive side is true. We've had our moments of distrust,however, especially only recently with the fleet of ships which Turkey's Marmara refusing to be boarded causing deaths and ill feelings. If we were such good friends, that incident wouldn't have happened. After the 1492-Spanish Inquisition, the sultans opened the gates of the Ottoman Empire generously to the Jewish refugees from Spain and later from Portugal and other lands. The Sephardi Jewish community had importance, especially in managing the monetary affairs of the state. Some Jews were even asked to return from Europe to live in the Empire and work in finances. Jews were good in trading and the arts as well which helped the Empire. After the 16th century, the life was not quite as favorable. Anti-Jewish restrictions were being applied more rigidly. Jews in the Middle East were treated in most places as dhimmis, or 2nd class citizens. By the 19th century Turkey had the 3rd largest Jewish population in the world. In the 1880's European Jews started immigrating to Palestine and the Ottoman Empire was the law then. Things got worse after WWI and all life changed. 37,000 Jews from Turkey emigrated to Israel after 1948. In 1990 there were about 20,000 Jews in Turkey. with about 18,000 in Istanbul, 1,500 in Izmir and smaller communities. The spiritual and cultural distinction of former days, ended. We won't forget, however, that while Europe was creating pogroms against Jews, life was much safer and better in the Ottoman Empire. The difference between the Christian attitude and the Muslim attitude then was much different than today. The Christians were still punishing Jews for killing Christ and the Muslims accepted us as mono-theists; believers of one G-d only and as people of the Book. We have much more in common than there are differences. Peace is the only way. I think Adnan Oktar is doing a wonderful job in finding similarities in creating a peaceful coexistence in his writings. Jews have had a very long history with Turkey that has been successful.