Skip to main content

Atalay Claims Jewish Diaspora Was Behind Gezi Park Protests

The Turkish Jewish community is concerned by Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay's claim that the Jewish Diaspora instigated Gezi Park protests.
Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (sitting at the 2nd L of the first row) is flanked by his ministers as Interior Minister Besir Atalay addresses the MPs during a debate at the Turkish Parliament in Ankara November 10, 2009. Turkey's parliament is set to discuss on Tuesday reforms designed to boost the rights of the country's Kurdish minority and end a 25-year separatist conflict -- moves seen boosting its European Union membership ambitions. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY POLITICS) - RTXQKNX

It’s mind-boggling trying to figure out how overt anti-Semitism has crept into the political discourse of some Turkish politicians to blame the Jews and Israel for everything that goes wrong in the country. 

While it’s not clear how this frenzy will come to an end, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government unfortunately continues to blame everyone else for the almost monthlong protests across the country except admitting their role in all of this. They now openly accused the Jewish Diaspora of playing a role in these protests. 

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.