Turkish opposition begs Israelis to return
Israeli tourism to Turkey has shrunk to practically zero; there are no longer direct flights from Israel to Antalya, which for many years was a favorite vacation spot for Israelis. The town's Mayor, who is a political rival of Prime Minister Erdogan, is begging Israelis to return. Antalya Mayor Mustafa Akaydın condemned Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's policy and called on Israelis to once again fill the city's streets and hotels, this after Israel lifted a severe warning on travel to the country.I don't think any Israeli is going to go to Turkey these days unless they have to. I won't even change planes there.
"The friendly relations between our two nations are important to me. I am concerned about the deterioration in ties," he told Israeli reporters on Monday.
The diplomatic crisis over the IDF's raid on a Gaza-bound Turkish ship in late May has kept Israeli tourists away from Turkey, once a favorite vacation spot.
Akaydın condemned Erdogan's policy, but added, "I do not want to criticize him."
"I have many Jewish friends from my days as a student, and it was a great honor for us to host you (Israeli tourists) here for years – and in crazy numbers. Unfortunately, the number of Israeli tourists visiting Turkey began to decrease in 2008, and the largest drop was recorded this summer," said the mayor.
"It is a mistake to assume that the Turks will not welcome the Israelis with kindness. Antalya's economy is dependent on tourism, particularly from Israel," he said.
Many Israeli-Arab families continue to travel to Turkey.
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:16 AM
1 Comments:
I don't blame you one bit. Turkey has been traveling down the Islamist road for a little while now, and it should take more than the kind words of a single mayor to make up for the shameful way in which a NATO member has acted. Then again, if they really do want into the EU, showing their anti-Semitic colors is like an express pass with the continentals. (I'm no Israeli, but I am of Jewish extraction and the British I've met there and over here were aware of such and were perfectly friendly; still have many Brit friends from those interactions. Can't say the same for the continental Euros.)
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