Turkish TV show portrays Israelis as baby snatchers
(Video) Deputy Foreign Minister Ayalon summons Turkish ambassador for inquiry following new serial thriller depicting Mossad agents, Israeli representatives in Ankara in negative light
Ayalon sought to inquire whether the series, "Valley of the Wolves", includes serious anti-Israel messages.
Ynet has learned that the "Valley of Wolves" series is known for its provocations and for enraging a different population group each season. The series was first aired in Turkey in 2003 as a local version of American action series "24".
The show's hero is an agent for the Turkish intelligence agency, who manages to infiltrate the country's mafia.
The show has sparked a row since its very first season, and its rating skyrocketed. Conservative groups and education officials in the country were enraged over its violent scenes, which included torture, assassinations and a great amount of blood.
The criticism was also directed at the involvement of American and Russian elements in the country's criminal turmoil. American actors Andy Garcia and Sharon Stone were guest starts on the show.
Following the success, the shows producers decided on a sequel – this time as a motion picture titled "Valley of the Wolves – Iraq", which was filmed in Syria in 2006. The $10 million invested in the production made it the most expensive film in the history of Turkish cinema, but the investment definitely paid off as the movie grossed $27.9 million at the box office across the world.
Daniel Edelson contributed to this report
