Jewish Group
Related: About this forumScourge in Anti-Semitism Force Many Turkish Jews to Leave for Spain
Turkish Jews arent feeling safe in their home country, anti-Semitism is on the rise, but they arent moving to Israel or the United States, but rather theyre seeking refugee in Spain.
The spike in anti-Semitism has caused the aging community to shrink by more than a third in the last quarter century. Many have linked the hate to anti-Israel sentiment which reached a crescendo during Israels summer war against Hamas. Turkeys President, Tayyip Erdogan compared Israels assault on Palestinians to genocide and Hitlers barbarism.
He drew distinctions between Israel and Turkish Jews, yet his words helped stoke outrage, and local Jews were threatened by public figures and pro-government newspapers.
Turkeys Jews, most of whose ancestors sought refugee here from the Spanish Inquisition, are on edge. Their school and synagogues are behind security tunnels, shielded by steel blast protection.
They have lived in a state of fear for a long time after terror attacks and the feeling that they are not treated as Turkish citizens. There is worry for the younger generation, said Ohad Kaynar, Israels deputy consul general.
And now, they feel as if the time to leave the country has finally come. In an interview with the New York Times, a Sephardic Jew, identified by a first name only for fears of Turkish retaliation, said that a crossword puzzle filled with hate had him make his decision.
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The irony is simply palatable!
Wilms
(26,795 posts)I was unaware that Erdogan used the word genocide! Here we are on the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide and Turkey is hassling it's own citizens again.
More irony: Israel doesn't recognize the Armenian Genocide.
Behind the Aegis
(53,975 posts)I will remind you, this is the JEWISH group, not I/P. The irony is the Jews were kicked out of Spain and fled to Turkey and now, hundreds of years later, they are having to bounce back.