Israel Matzav

Jewish friend of Erdogan being targeted by Turkish media

A Jew who attended university with Turkish Prime Minister Tayip Erdogan is being targeted by the Turkish media. Fortunately for Rafael Sadi, he made aliya (immigrated) to Israel in 1991).

Since immigrating to Israel in 1991 Sadi has been in constant contact with Turkish public figures, has written articles to Turkish media outlets and held interviews with various TV channels.

When he saw that ties between Ankara and Jerusalem were deteriorating he recruited his Turkish-speaking friends in Israel to help with the PR effort. As part of his activities, Sadi launched a PR website in Turkish which also contains news updates regarding bilateral ties.

These efforts have regretfully turned him into a target in Turkey. Last week a radical Muslim newspaper published a feature on the "savage Zionist traitor who was born in Turkey."

The author claimed that Sadi takes every opportunity to insult Turkey and Erdodan and stated:"While the Mavi Marmara left Turkey, he organized a demonstration against the flotilla's arrival to Israel." It was further mentioned that Sadi interrogated the "freedom travelers" and provided the Mossad with information.

Sadi is described in the article as "the enemy of Turkey and Islam" who takes every chance to act against Ankara.

Sadi claims not to be afraid of traveling to Turkey. I would advise him to forego that pleasure. Turkey is a very different country today than it was twenty years ago.

Sadi told Ynet that in his youth Erdogan was chairman of the religious student association of one of the Turkish parties and noted the premier "wrote, directed and acted in an anti-Zionist play."

I guess that's one thing about Turkey that hasn't changed.

Labels: Islamist, Mavi Marmara, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:59 PM