Escalating Anti-Semitism as Turkey Embraces Iran

Escalating Anti-Semitism as Turkey Embraces Iran

For over 500 years, from the expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492 to the horrific years of the Nazi Holocaust, Jews have found a safe haven among the Turkish people.

Tehran - October 27, 2009 President Ahmadinejad said he "appreciates" Turkish PM Erdogan's support for Iran's nuclear program.

Now a series of developments have created fear among Turkey's Jews and has led to a deterioration in relations between Jerusalem and Ankara, and acrisis within NATO.

•Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan publicly expressed support for Iran — "There is no doubt he [President Ahmadinejad] is our friend" even as heaccused Israel's Foreign Minister Lieberman of threatening to nuke Gaza.

•Turkey barred Israel from a planned NATO military exercise on Turkish soil over "sensitivity on Gaza, East Jerusalem and Al-Aqsamosque."

•"Separation", a miniseries about Palestinians (see below), broadcast on Turkish state-run TV and also seen throughout Europe, depicts young Israeli soldiers asNazi-like murderers gunning down a Palestinian infant, and young children.

Support the Work of the Simon Wiesenthal Center