Publications Archive
After Gaza: Rising Anti-Semitism in Turkey? January 29, 2009 / Amberin Zaman
Is Turkey's unusually harsh response, both official and public, to Israel's assault against Hamas in Gaza merely a reaction to Israel's policies? Or does it mirror latent anti-Semitism in Turkish society? These questions are increasingly being raised, especially among Jewish-American groups who are among Turkey's firmest friends in Washington.
Encouragingly, however, as the chorus of anti-Israeli sentiment grows louder, a growing number of commentators are speaking up against anti-Semitism. There are even signature campaigns condemning racism and anti-Semitism circulating in the Turkish blogsphere. And Turkey's Jews who long maintained a low profile are beginning to speak up as well.
Can Turkey continue to pride itself on being the most pro-Western and tolerant nation in the Islamic world?



