ANKARA (The Jerusalem Post)—An American Jewish organization is demanding that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan return an award it gave him a decade ago over his recent remarks on Israel’s military operation in Gaza.
Calling him “arguably the most virulent anti-Israel leader in the world,” American Jewish Congress President Jack Rosen accused the Prime Minister of “spewing dangerous rhetoric for political gain and inciting the Turkish population to violence against the Jewish people.”
Erdogan received the American Jewish Congress’ Profile of Courage award in 2004 after making statements affirming his commitment to protect Turkish Jewry, eradicate terrorism and broker a Middle East peace deal.
“We want [the award] back,” Rosen wrote Erdogan on Wednesday, informing the head of state that his statements had not only done “irreparable damage to Jewish-Turkish relations and put innocent people at risk” but had also caused him to forfeit his seat “at the table of legitimate mediators working to end the current conflict between Israel and Hamas.”
Erdogan’s stated views on the conflict are “abhorrent,” Rosen declared.
Since Israel’s ground forces entered the Gaza strip last Thursday, Erdogan has been among Israel’s harshest critics, calling it a “terror state” and accusing Jerusalem of perpetrating a “systematic genocide” against the Palestinians.
Israeli barbarism, he stated, has “surpassed” that of Hitler.
Yeni Akit, a pro-government newspaper in Istanbul, recently ran an article by journalist Faruk Köse calling on Turkish Jews to issue a communal apology on behalf of Israel while attacks on Israel’s embassy and consulate in Ankara and Istanbul prompted Jerusalem to withdraw some of its diplomatic staff.
When it came to “Jewish interests” this Jewish Organization (and others) had no problems sleeping with the devil, not to mention throwing Armenians under the bus by causing to Armenian Genocide recognition. Boo Hoo Hoo, they get no sympathy from me.
Perhaps Erdogan is even speaking the truth for a change.
No one is stupid enough to believe that homemade toy rockets and throwing rocks are any match for US taxpayer sponsored advanced weaponry and bombs wiping out 700 civilians including many children in a week.
causing HARM to Armenian Genocide recognition
Perfectly stated, Kevork!!!!
More games. Who do they think they are fooling? Enemies don’t engage is business dealings and arms sales as Israel and turkey do. Enemies try to undermine their enemy’s very existence, as turkey and Azerbaijan try to do with armenia thru such acts as economic blockade and regional isolation. The defense and security apparatus of Israel and turkey is intertwined-they can never go against one another. This is all a show!
No use crying about it now Jews, you made your beds, now sleep in them.
Erdoagn and the AKP Party is a major embarrassment for Turkey!! The vast majority of Turks do not share their views!!! Erdoagn needs to be removed from office!!!
AJC IS EMBARRASSED?—-AWE AIN”T THAT A SHAME—THE CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST WHEN POLITICS COME FULL CIRCLE AND ALL THE ”TURKSUCKERS” WHO SUPPORT THE TURKISH GENOCIDE PERPETRATORS AND DENIALIST POSITIONS GET SLAPPED BY THE TURKS WHO WILL USUALLY BE STUPID AND SELF SERVING.. ((DEFINITION OF A ”TURKSUCKER” IS ONE WHO IS SUCKED INTO THE TURKISH DENIALIST VERSION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE INCLUDING SCHOLARS AND SOME ORGANIZATIONS)
I demand Israel to recognize the Armenian genocide !!! Do it now !!
Shalom
Thank you Shlomo. I marched with a Jew wearing a yarmulke during Genocide protest in LA this year. Brought tears to my eyes.
Muslim world and Turks and Erdoghan never care for Jews…Those Jews, who are looking for Muslim support and sympathy, especially from Turkey are blind.
Jewish organizers and ADL, who kept Turkey for decades on their own side and killed Armenian Genocide recognition in US and Israel will never learn the lessons!
I hope that now finally US Jews will stop blocking recognition of the Armenian genocide and will stop supporting Azeri as well.
Dishonest Jewish officials remember Armenian Genocide, whenever hey think they can abuse again and again the fact of Armenian Genocide for there very personal propaganda war with Turkish Erdogan- all this is of short life and of no use for Armenian cause!…..IT would be nice if Armenian media start ignoring such announcements coming from Jewish officials and Jewish organizations from US ,..better to not play in the hands of Jewish or Turkish politicians , who do not care about our sufferings and despite ” a dirty propaganda war in media” do maintain a very good relationship trough other communication canals/ways
I think Armenians should stay clear of this feud, either side will not help our interests and Turks will be watching our reaction and take it out on our people
Hahaha, Jews give awards to Turks?? I thought Jews were smart.
Yet Some Jewish lobbies had no trouble taking Turkish money to deny the Armenian Genocide and your own Government still denies the Genocide of ww1….To not learn of the Armenian Genocide is to study ww2 with out understanding ww1..The Germans were involved in Both Genocides..Hitler said , who today remembers the Armenian Genocide before killing the Polish Jews…..Most Jewish intellectuals did speak for the Armenians They were Jews of great integrity and I respect them for that…
This is all political BS from both sides. Underneath it all, its business as usual between Turkey and Israel.
They deserve each other.
As nationalist as I am when it concerns Turkey related issues, I think this guy is a hypocrite. While he hypocritically criticizes Israel for his own political objectives, his son gives fuel to Israeli planes bombing Gaza, as well as secretly maintaining economic ties. He doesn’t care about being a neutral mediator, but, rather, behave emotional for the sake of making himself look good politically.
To the point: Settle directly with those with whom you have to coexist (unless you aspire to drive them back to wherever they came from). Turks, Kurds, Azeris, Persians… are there to stay. You better seek peace with them, unless you aspire to move out of that historic geography. Enough paying right and left; enough begging to near and to far; enough wasting energy and capabilities in far-fetched lands. Third parties collect your funds, and leave – as they have always done, and then sold you for a dollar or two. You belong there, in the Caucuses: Seek your peaceful existence with your neighbors THERE!!! LASTING peace, rather than just BROKERED!!!
danny, last time Armenians seek for peaceful existence, Arabs, Turks, Kurds, wipe out our entire Armenian population of Armenian Highlands!
danny boy, according to Islamic doctrine there can be no lasting peace with “infidels”. I know so, because Robert Spencer said so.