Channels

Erdogan. A harsh critic of Israel
Photo: AP

Turkish PM vows to fight anti-Semitism

Erdogan says criticim of Israel does not amount to anti-Semitism. He adds his country guarantees rights, safety of country's Jewish population, calls anti-Semitism 'a crime against humanity'

Turkey's leader says criticism of Israel does not amount to anti-Semitism and that his country guarantees the rights and safety of its Jewish population.

 

The small Jewish community says it is in contact with Turkish police and lawmakers because of safety concerns after the Gaza war.

 

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been a harsh critic of Israel because of civilian casualties during the war in Gaza. He angrily walked out of a forum attended by the Israeli president in Davos, Switzerland.

 

But Erdogan said Tuesday that the country has no history of anti-Semitism and described it as a "crime against humanity."

 

A statement from the Jewish community says it welcomes Erdogan's condemnation of anti-Semitism. But it expresses concern about what it calls harshly anti-Semitic rhetoric in some television programs.

 

Erdogan caused a storm last week when he walked out of a heated debate on Israel's Gaza offensive in Davos.

 

After a fiery exchange with President Shimon Peres, Erdogan said he might never return to the annual gathering of the rich and powerful in the Swiss resort.

 

During a debate on the Middle East Peres had launched a passionate defense of his country's assault on Gaza over the past month and, with a raised voice and pointed finger, questioned what Erdogan would do if rockets were fired at Istanbul every night.

 

"I don't think I will come back to Davos because you don't let me speak," said the Turkish prime minister, who complained of not getting time to reply. He stood up and walked out of the conference hall.

Peres had asked Erdogan directly, "What would you do if you were to have in Istanbul every night a hundred rockets?"

 

The visibly angry Erdogan had responded strongly to Peres' repeated question to the panel of what they would do in Israel's position.

 

"President Peres, you are older than I am. Maybe you are feeling guilty and that is why you are so strong in your words. You killed people. I remember the children who died on beaches," Erdogan said, through an interpreter.

 

Reuters and AFP contributed to this report 

 


פרסום ראשון: 02.03.09, 15:33
 new comment
Warning:
This will delete your current comment