Jewish organizations slam Erdogan's demarche in DavosJanuary 30, 2009 - 21:59 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - An influential Jewish organization harshly criticized on Friday Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan after he stormed out of the Gaza session in Davos, saying this behavior is "a public disgrace that may well encourage further outrage against Israel and Jews." "Prime Minister Erdogan's tantrum at Davos throws gasoline on the fire of surging anti-Semitism," American Jewish Committee (AJC) Executive Director David A. Harris said in a statement issued on the organization's website early on Friday. "Erdogan's unjustified remarks and disrespect of Israel's president are yet another demonstration of how criticism of Israel is becoming increasingly virulent," Harris added. Although Erdogan underlined that his reaction did not target the Israeli people or Jews, but the moderator of the session, AJC said it cannot stay silent in the face of such rhetoric. "The relationship between Turkey and Israel is a vital one that has enjoyed the support of American Jews," Harris said. "But we cannot remain silent in the face of such appalling rhetorical denunciations of Israel, particularly when there has been a worrying surge of anti-Semitism in Turkey in recent weeks." AJC also was stunned to see Erdogan quote with approval the obscure writings of a Jew turned anti-Semite, a former Israeli citizen named Gilad Atzmon, who has said that "the Jewish state is the ultimate threat to humanity and our notion of humanism". "When the author of such ravings is quoted by the prime minister of a democratic country, we must seriously ask ourselves where reason ends and hatred begins," Harris said. In a letter to Erdogan last week, AJC and four other American Jewish organizations expressed profound concern over the current wave of anti-Semitic manifestations in Turkey, Hurriyet daily reports. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | 17 bridges collapse as a result of floods in Armenia As a result of floods in Armenia’s northern Lori and Tavush provinces, 17 bridges, including five large ones, have collapsed. Armenia: Top cleric to retain title as he bids to become interim PM Galstanyan said earlier that the interim government would be tasked with stopping the “destruction of our homeland”. Ex-mayor of Karabakh capital arrested in Yerevan Ex-mayor of the Nagorno-Karabakh city of Stepanakert David Sargsyan has been arrested for 20 days. 269 people evacuated amid severe floods in Armenia’s north According to the Interior Ministry, 269 people have been evacuated from their homes in Lori and Tavush provinces. |