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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 a crisis 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 he accused 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-Aqsa mosque."

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

The SWC has protested directly to the Turkish Prime Minister. We need you to add your voice to send a message to Ankara to stop the hate.

Left unanswered, these events and trends will increase anti-Semitism, violence and even terrorism and call into question the future of a 500 year-long friendship between Turkey and world Jewry. Please act now!

From anti-Israel protests earlier this year in Istanbul: Left to Right : Grafitti'd wall "Dirty Israel"; burning the Star of David; sign in store: "FOR CHILDREN KILLERS ISRAELIS NO SALE NO ENTRY"

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