Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave an interview to the Washington Post daily. PM Erdogan in the interview said "There are those who try to claim that my attitude toward Israel´s latest attacks on Gaza is because I´m anti-Semitic or against the Jewish people... Beginning with the Jews who live in my country, they are witnesses to my attitude toward Jews."
Erdogan further argued that anti-Semitism is a crime against humanity:
"As an individual, I have always declared that anti-Semitism is a crime against humanity. As a prime minister I have always been against anti-Semitism and my frustration is against the current Israeli government because they did not act fairly toward us."
When the WP correspondent asked "But I´ve seen the anti-Semitic signs around Turkey recently. . . ." Erdogan replied "These are individual attempts". After the question of WP "But they´re very extreme. The Israeli Consulate has been picketed. It´s been ugly" Mr. Erdogan continued to response:
"There have been democratic demonstrations. . . . There are demonstrations in the United States, even in Israel. Everything we have said is against the current Israeli government, nothing against Jews. In my speeches I have stated very clearly that anyone who even thinks about doing anything against the Jews in Turkey will find me against them. Of course, I´m not going to ask Olmert to write my speeches."
Turkish Prime Minister added Turkey and Israel have a serious relationship. "But the current Israeli government should check itself. They should not exploit this issue for the upcoming elections in Israel" said PM Erdogan.
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