In 2017, I published a book on anti-Zionism and antisemitism in Turkey. In that book, besides describing the development of antisemitic and anti-Israel phenomena in Turkey over the years, I explored the question of whether Erdogan himself is an antisemite. I argued that whether or not he is personally antisemitic — a judgment I leave to the reader — the crucial issue is his influence on the rise and spread of antisemitic sentiment in Turkish society. Unlike other countries, antisemitism and anti-Zionism in Turkey are often dictated from above.

I was reminded of this after Erdogan’s recent threat to Israel, in which he asserted that Turkey would enter Israel as it had entered Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh, and that nothing could be done to prevent it.

“We must be strong so that Israel does not continue its ridiculous actions against Palestine,” he said. This threat, partially intended to create fear that Israel might do to the Turks what it allegedly did to the Palestinians, came after Netanyahu’s speech to Congress but is not necessarily related to it, except as an attempt to gain popularity in an arena other than Washington. Erdogan has become obsessed with Netanyahu, portraying him in Turkish media as a new Hitler. This rhetoric is exemplified by a street ad with a graphic of Netanyahu’s face gradually transforming into Hitler’s. The image is captioned, “Hitler is not dead, he is only changing shape.” Netanyahu’s speech in Congress might have been a catalyst for the threat, but it was not the starting point of Erdogan’s hostility.

Erdogan’s statement came a day after the Hezbollah massacre of 12 Druze children in Majdal Shams, an event he did not address. Even after October 7, Erdogan said simply, “We invite all parties to act reasonably and avoid impulsive measures.”

Does Erdogan intend to send military units to Gaza or to provide aid to Hamas in the form of ammunition? Turkey’s arms exports have surged in recent years. In 2022, Turkey’s defense industry recorded a turnover of $10 billion, with arms exports at $4.4 billion and expected to increase. The Turkish drone Bayraktar, which has played a significant role in the Russia-Ukraine war as well as in Syria, Libya, and Nagorno-Karabakh, is not the only weapon Turkey produces.

Israel was surprised by Erdogan’s threat, though proof of his intentions surfaced as early as September 2023. This event was overshadowed by the October 2023 massacre. In September, customs officials at the port of Ashdod uncovered an attempt by Turkey to smuggle 16 tons of rocket material into the Gaza Strip. Two containers containing 54 tons of gypsum sacks that were sent by Turkey to Gaza were found to contain ammonium chloride, which is used by terrorist organizations in the Strip for rocket production.

What factors led Erdogan to make such a severe threat against Israel?

These threats should be viewed against the backdrop of Turkey’s rapprochement with Syria and Iran. Erdogan spent much of the last decade trying to topple Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, following a close personal relationship with Assad between 2007 and 2010 as part of Ankara’s “zero problems” policy with its neighbors. At one point, Erdogan even attempted to mediate peace talks between Syria and Israel. The current Turkish rapprochement with Assad, whom Erdogan has called a terrorist multiple times, is mainly related to anti-Syrian riots in several Turkish cities. In Ankara, opposition parties are calling for the mass deportation of Syrian refugees, and the government is turning to the Syrian regime it once sought to topple to help solve this problem. The riots exposed longstanding tensions between Syrians and Turks that are being exacerbated by economic pressures from Turkey’s high inflation. The Syrian issue poses a threat to Erdogan’s popularity within Turkey and strengthens criticism of him.

Beyond Syria and Iran, there is also a strengthening of relations between Turkey and Russia. In May 2023, the foreign ministers of Turkey, Russia, Syria and Iran met in Moscow. This warming of relations with enemies of the West is particularly notable as Turkey is a NATO member.

The Turkish threat to Israel and the Turkish-Israeli conflicts over the past decade and a half have repeatedly provided the Justice and Development Party and its leader with opportunities to position themselves as champions of Islam, an image they strive to project to fortify their electoral base. This base is under threat due to the erosion of political authority and the ongoing economic crisis, making it crucial for Erdogan to act prominently against Israel. Recall that about a decade ago, during his first presidential campaign, Erdogan erected large billboards showing him as the man who made Israel apologize for the Mavi Marmara incident. This is also why aviation, tourism, and trade relations between Israel and Turkey were almost completely halted by Erdogan’s order despite the tripling they had enjoyed through the countries’ economic ties. Nevertheless, Erdogan continues to face significant domestic criticism and protests regarding his policy toward Israel. In some circles, he is considered too lenient, as he has not suspended diplomatic relations and continues to allow a substantial supply of Azerbaijani gas to transit through Turkey on its way to Israel.

Criticism primarily comes from those close to Erdogan – particularly the Yeniden Refah Partisi (New Welfare Party), which gained popularity at the expense of Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party in the last local elections (the party gained 6.19% percent of the votes). In his speech threatening Israel, Erdogan went out of his way to condemn Doğan Bekin, New Welfare Party Istanbul MP of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, thereby creating a direct link between the threat to Israel and this party.

Protests against the Justice and Development Party are not solely about economics or domestic and foreign politics. There is also controversy over a proposed law requiring the euthanization of stray dogs not housed in kennels. This law, which passed without consultation with veterinarians, sparked protests across the country. Such protests could ignite a broader movement, potentially leading to demonstrations driven by the ongoing economic crisis. Those demonstrations could be similar to the Gezi Park riots of 2013 or even more severe. It is therefore critical to Erdogan that he maintain domestic support.

Additionally, Turkey’s relationship with Hamas must be highlighted. Despite calls for Hamas leaders to leave Turkey after October 7, no action was taken to enforce this instruction. Turkish support for Hamas negatively affects ordinary Turkish citizens, including Turkish Jews. The law prohibiting dual citizenship with Israel further exacerbates alleged loyalty issues among Turkish Jews.

So what is the real significance of Erdogan’s threat?

It is unlikely that Turkey will send military units to Gaza at this point. Diplomatic relations between Turkey and Israel still exist. Turkey threatened to send flotillas and attack Israel after the Marmara incident in 2010 and following the denial of humanitarian aid to Gaza after October 7, but those threats turned out to be mere rhetoric. The current threat, while equally unlikely to be carried out, could indicate plans to send weapons and intelligence assistance to Israel’s rivals.

Secondly, as Turkey is a member of NATO, it is improbable that the US would permit such a scenario. Whether or not Erdogan’s threats have any substance, the simple fact of a country’s president threatening the military invasion of a country with which it has diplomatic relations is serious. This is significant for Israel, but also for other countries with which Turkey has relationships. Notably, aside from the extreme right leader in the Netherlands, Geert Wilders, no other party has responded to the threat against Israel.

This month marks the 50th anniversary of Turkey’s occupation of Northern Cyprus, and Turkey continues to threaten Greece and Cyprus despite peace talks. The latter was warned by Sheikh Nasrallah not to allow Israel to attack from its territory in the event of war breaking out between Israel and Hezbollah, but it was also called upon to “stay away” from the conflict by Hakan Fidan, Turkey’s foreign minister.

It is noteworthy that Turkey can condemn and threaten Syria and Greece but still negotiate with them, as it did with Israel before Erdogan’s era. Erdogan was recently quoted as saying, “We believe it is useful to open clenched fists. We want disputes to be resolved through mutual dialogue at the negotiating table.” But it is hard to believe that Erdogan’s Turkey is capable of making such statements regarding Israel (which might answer the question of whether or not Erdogan is an antisemite).

Lastly, regarding Majdal Shams: The massacre of 12 children during a soccer match should have shocked Erdogan, who began his career as a soccer player.

Prof. Efrat Aviv is a senior researcher at the BESA Center and a senior lecturer in the Department of General History at Bar-Ilan University. A version of this article was originally published by The BESA Center.

The post Turkey’s Erdogan Threatened to Invade Israel: What Does It Really Mean? first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

Many of the anti-Israel protests in July were centered on the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the US. A variety of American Palestinian groups urged Netanyahu to be “arrested.” Prior to Netanyahu’s speech before Congress, some 200 protestors were arrested in the Capitol Rotunda. Mobs also besieged the hotel where he was staying, with Palestinian Youth Movement infiltrators filming themselves releasing maggot and insects, and pulling fire alarms overnight.

Prior to the speech, thousands of protestors mobbed Washington, D.C., burning American flags and waving Hamas flags, assaulting police, and vandalizing monuments with graffiti including “Hamas is coming.”

Classic antisemitic imagery, including Netanyahu depicted as a demon with horns and fangs dripping blood, were common. Police, including many brought in from other cities, used tear gas to disperse the crowds, but US Park Police later reported that less than three dozen members were deployed to protect monuments. Those arrested were later released, and many charges were dropped.

The riots were condemned from across the political spectrum, including the White House. 

Other pro-Hamas protest activities during the month included:

July 4th disruptions in major cities including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Boston, which featured burning the American flag.

Vandalizing a Seattle Holocaust museum with the words “Genocide in Gaza.” Local police declared the act was not a hate crime.

A planned protest outside a Michigan Holocaust museum and demands that the museum condemn Israel.

Protestors who unfurled pro-Hamas banners from the roof of the Australian parliament building.
The Royal Palace on Dam Square in Amsterdam being vandalized by pro-Hamas activists with red paint, which they stated “symbolizes the blood of the Palestinians that is currently flowing through the streets of Gaza.”
Emailed bomb threats “in the name of Palestine” forced the evacuation of the Pennsylvania Capitol Complex.
An Israeli owned factory in New York City was attacked along with two in Britain with alleged connections to Israel. A non-Jewish owned diner on Long Island with hostage posters in the windows was also vandalized.

Attacks on synagogues and Jewish institutions were routine in July:

Protests outside a New York City synagogue hosting an Israeli real estate fair.
A Pittsburgh synagogue and the Jewish Federation headquarters were vandalized.
A Los Angeles synagogue was vandalized twice in one week.
Vandalizing a Sydney synagogue with a banner reading “sanction Israel.”
A thwarted plot to destroy an Athens synagogue resulted in arrests. This followed attacks on a Chabad house and an Israeli owned hotel.
Two Toronto synagogues were attacked, and a school and a school bus were burned.

Elsewhere, a variety of symbols associated with Jews continue to be appropriated for the Hamas cause. One especially obscene example was an Anne Frank statue in Amsterdam that was vandalized with the word “Gaza.”

In Bergen, Norway, a mural of Anne Frank wearing a keffiyah sparked controversy. The anonymous artist claimed that “The killings of the innocent women and children in Gaza must stop now. I feel sure that Anne Frank … would support me in this demand.”

Students

Reports indicate that anti-Israel students are investing heavily in summer training activities. A number of Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) summer camps sponsored by the National Students for Justice in Palestine have been noted, including at the University of Massachusetts, Smith College, and San Francisco State University.

Threats against universities and Jewish students also escalated in July. Unionized student workers associated with the United Auto Workers at Columbia University voted to endorse BDS, and threaten to strike if its demands are not met.

At New York University, the administration condemned the People’s Solidarity Coalition aka the People’s Front, which had issued a statement embracing “armed struggle” as part of its efforts to “dismantle NYU’s involvement in settler-colonial occupation, genocide and imperial wars. We localize the Palestinian liberation struggle within the imperialist University, and take up the fight against NYU’s global empire, which collaborates in the interests of Zionist colonialism and U.S. imperialism.”

In another example, the University of Wisconsin Madison SJP chapter threatened that “We will no longer normalize genocidal extremists walking on our campus. … ANY organization or entity that supports Israel is not welcome at UWM. This includes the local extremist groups such as Hillel, Jewish Federation, etc.”

The larger revolutionary framework of anti-Israel and anti-American protests was described in a posting by the University of Illinois Chicago SJP, which stated “Inshallah amerikkka and israel will fall within our life time. Death to all police and colonial empires.”  

The repercussions of the post-October 7 campus unrest continue to reverberate for university administrations. One report indicates that the protests cost the University of California system $29 million, with UCLA alone incurring $10 million in security and $400,000 in cleanup expenses.

Several universities have quietly announced that divestment from Israel is not being considered, including the University of Pennsylvania and the University of California system. The University of Minnesota regents proposed to sidestep the issue with an “investment neutrality” policy, while the University of Edinburgh has postponed consideration indefinitely. The London School of Economics stated that divestment was effectively impossible. 

Disciplinary action against pro-Hamas protestors continues to emerge:

At Northwestern University, three employees and one graduate student were arrested for obstructing police, who were attempting to break up an encampment. Charges were then dropped by the Cook County prosecutor.
Two additional protestors at the University of Illinois were charged, bringing the total to five.
Pro-Hamas students at the University of Texas were suspended for two years.
At Harvard University, suspended students were reinstated after faculty complaints, and their diplomas were conferred.
A variety of pro-Hamas student groups at George Washington University were reportedly being sanctioned.
In Britain, the universities of Nottingham and Birmingham obtained court orders disbanding campus encampments.
The University of Melbourne has reportedly threatened to expel pro-Hamas protestors after disciplinary proceeding. The protestors complained that “surveillance technology” had been used to identify them.

Other universities continue to make a variety of concessions to protestors:

After negotiations with the pro-Hamas elements encampment, the University of Wisconsin-Madison apparently agreed to cut ties with two Israeli companies and to condemn the “plausible genocide” by Gazans.
The University of Liège announced that it was conceding to student demands to confirm it had no collaborations with Israeli universities, that it would request a review by the European Council on Israeli participation in European-wide projects, and that it was rejecting a series of donations and collaboration with specific companies.
University of Toronto encampment participants were provided with amnesty by the university as a condition for vacating the campus.
The University of Windsor agreed encampment demands to accept more “scholars at risk” and students from Gaza, “enhanced anti-racism initiatives,” and to greater investment transparency.
Cambridge University agreed to review its investments as part of an agreement with the pro-Hamas encampment. It also confirmed it did not have investments in specific Israeli companies.

University administrations continue to adopt a variety of measures to ensure the fall semester will be quiet. The University of California Regents voted to ban political statements by academic departments. The move comes after numerous departments posted anti-Israel statements on their websites, particularly after October 7.

Restrictions on protests were also instituted by the Indiana University regents, and have been proposed at Harvard University, including a ban on overnight camping. Most substantively, a Federal court has ordered UCLA to develop a plan to protect Jewish students from the discrimination and harassment that underpinned the 20224 encampments.

But while antisemitism task forces, invariably paired with “Islamophobia” task forces, have provided useful documentation of campus harassment and intimidation, their mostly modest recommendations have been ignored.  

Efforts to “educate” staff members regarding antisemitism within the existing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) mechanisms that dominate campuses have thus far been unsuccessful. 

Faculty

As faculty prepare for the fall semester, a number of developments point to the continued domination of campus politics and discourse by the anti-Israel movement. Unions remain key mechanisms for anti-Israel forces to maintain control:

A petition circulated at Rutgers University calls on the faculty to demand the school’s American Association of University Professors-American Federation of Teachers members call for divestment and for cutting ties with Tel Aviv University.
Six Jewish faculty at the City University of New York (CUNY) have sent a Petition for a Writ of Certiorari to the US Court of Appeals asking to hear their case against the Professional Staff Congress. 
A series of resolutions proposed at the American Federation of Teachers convention demanding an end to US military aid to Israel and protect pro-Palestinian protestors were removed from consideration by the leadership as “unconstitutional.”
A series of resolutions were proposed to the National Education Association convention supporting BDS, demanding the end of US military aid to Israel, and supporting teaching about the “Nakba.” The convention and consideration of the resolutions was halted by a strike of union staff.

The isolation of Israeli academia at the hands of international colleagues continues to expand. New reports indicate that the number of foreign students applying to study at leading Israeli universities has declined precipitously since October 7, and many international faculty are planning on leaving. The declines are especially critical in the hard sciences and life sciences, with local academics warning that Israel may become a closed scientific monoculture on par with China or Iran. Most analysts cite the impact of the BDS movement and fear of having a record of Israeli collaboration. Other reports cite a growing wave of Israeli academics leaving the country for overseas positions. Most, however, cite domestic politics, the security situation, and the high cost of living.

More positively, an open letter signed by some 3,000 academics denounced Israel boycotts.

The author is a contributor to SPME, where a version of this article was first published.

The post These Outrageous Antisemitic Incidents Occurred Across the US in July first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

JNS.org – A tweet by Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Friday accusing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of destroying his country has garnered nearly 40 million views and has drawn a sharp reaction from Erdoğan’s supporters.

In the Aug. 2 tweet, Erdoğan stands in the foreground as a Turkish flag and the city of Istanbul go up in flames.

“Erdoğan is turning Turkey into a dictatorship just by reason of its support for Hamas’s murderers and rapists, against the stance of the entire free world,” Katz tweeted in Turkish.

“[Erdoğan’s Turkey] blocks Instagram, interrupts sports broadcasts because an Israeli athlete beat a Turkish athlete, threatens to invade a democratic country with which Turkey is not in a military conflict, and inflicts an annual loss of $6 billion on Turkish exporters by severing trade relations,” the foreign minister said in his tweet.

“Erdoğan is taking and destroying a Turkish state with scientific, cultural, technological and economic capabilities, and eliminating the legacy of [President Mustafa Kemal] Ataturk, who built a progressive and prosperous Turkey,” Katz concluded.

Senior officials in the Turkish government were quick to attack Katz and Israel in response.

The tweet also united Erdoğan’s political opposition. “We are not going to learn democracy and law from someone whose hands shed the blood of tens of thousands of children,” tweeted Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, a member of the secular Republican People’s Party.

“Everything will be fine, when Palestine is free,” he said.

Katz had tagged İmamoğlu in his tweet and İmamoğlu had to respond as he did in order not to appear as an Israeli “collaborator,” Channel 12 reported.

Other leaders came out in support of Katz’s tweet. “President Ronald Reagan once called [Libyan dictator Muammar] Khadaffi the Mad Dog of the Middle East. Today that title suits #Erdogan,” the leader of the Netherland’s Party for Freedom, Geert Wilders, posted to X.

Erdoğan, whose ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) suffered a historic defeat in local elections on March 31, has become ever more hostile towards Israel and closer to Hamas since the terrorist group’s Oct. 7 massacre.

On July 28, Erdoğan threatened to invade Israel. Katz called on NATO to expel Turkey in response.

The post Israeli FM’s Tweet Raises Storm in Turkey first appeared on Algemeiner.com.