Turkey’s Charm Offensive

WARMING UP “Today we continue to enjoy living with our Jewish citizens who are part of our society” declared Turkish ambassador to Israel Kemal Okem reflecting the government’s renewed efforts at warmer diplomatic relations (Photos: Peleg Levy)

T urkey’s new ambassador to Israel Dr. Kemal Okem turned on the charm last week in his first public comments since taking up his post in December after years of sour relations.

He said that Jews who made aliyah from Turkey acted as a bridge between the two countries. Perhaps more controversially he also insisted that Jews did not make aliyah because they were fleeing anti-Semitism but because of their attraction for Israel. Asked how relations are developing between Turkey and Israel Okem told Mishpacha “It is good.”

The Turkish ambassador spoke at a conference at Bar-Ilan University titled “Turkish Jewry: Aliyah Society and Culture ” organized by the Dahan Center a research center that studies the Sephardic Jewish experience. The crowd which included Turkish olim welcomed Okem warmly and many among the few hundred guests approached him to chat after the conference ended. Okem spoke in an empathetic way that was surprising considering the fiery anti-Israel rhetoric of Islamist Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan broke diplomatic relations with Israel in 2011 after Israeli Navy Seals boarded the Mavi Marmara — a Gaza “aid” ship whose passengers included armed protestors — and killed nine Turkish citizens. Ties were restored in December.