Turkish Jews Condemn Anti-Israel Rally Outside Istanbul Synagogue
Image by Getty Images
(JTA) — Leaders of Turkish Jewry condemned demonstrators who rallied around a synagogue in Istanbul to protest against Israel, including men who kicked the building’s doors and hurled objects at it.
The Turkish Jewish Community on Twitter called the incident Thursday night outside the Neve Shalom synagogue, where several dozen men gathered with anti-Israel signs, “intimidation and provocation,” calling on authorities to make sure it “stops” and that the people responsible are prosecuted for a hate crime.
The protesters came to demonstrate against the decision by Israeli authorities to position metal detectors at the entrance to the Haram al Sharif compound in Jerusalem, according to the Hurriyet daily. The devices were placed at the site, where the Al Aqsa mosque is situated, after three Palestinian terrorists killed two police officers there on July 14.
One man, who identified himself as Kürşat Mican, told reporters at the synagogue: “The Zionists prevent our brethren freedom of worship. We are here to block you from your freedom of worship. No matter if we are stopped here today, we will come tomorrow. No one can enter here.”
A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse..
Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
