Relations with Turkey sink lower after Erdogan's Israel comments
The surge of anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli demonstrations in Turkey, inspired by critical remarks from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, forces Israel to set aside attempts at reconciliation.
Few Israelis noticed the reports about the violent demonstrations and threats against Israeli diplomats at Israel’s missions in Turkey — the embassy in Ankara and the consulate in Istanbul — since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the Israel Defense Forces to respond to rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip. The incessant reports about the rocket fire from Gaza and Israel’s offensive in Gaza also drowned out the disparaging, virulent incitement by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Israeli officials believe that Erdogan’s invective was the cause of the unprecedented displays of violence by thousands of Turks against Israel. The wave of anti-Semitism sweeping Turkey in recent days, directed at the Jewish community there, was barely reported in Israel. Media outlets had little time to update viewers on anything directly unrelated to reports of Operation Protective Edge.
