Israel links attacks to anti-Semitism in Europe (World reaction to Istanbul synagogue bombings)

Nov. 15, 2003
Israel links attacks to anti-Semitism in Europe
By JPOST.COM STAFF

Nations and organizations around the world have reacted to the bombing of two synagogues in Istanbul on Saturday morning. Israel tied the deadly attacks to anti-Semitic incitement in the Arab world and the recent anti-Semitic and virulently anti-Israeli statements heard in Europe. France and Italy acknowledged the Jewish aspects of the attack, with Italy linking it to the killing of 19 Italians in Iraq on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon expressed "shock and outrage" at the attacks and sent Israel's condolences to the Turkish people, and said he had full confidence in the ability of the Turkish authorities to bring those responsible to justice.

"The government has unreserved faith that the organs of security and justice in Turkey will know how the apprehend those responsible for this despicable act," he said in a statement.

Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom issued a statement saying the attacks "must be seen within the context of the recent spate of anti-Israel and anti-Jewish incitement in the Arab world, as well as in light of the recent anti Israel and anti-Semitic remarks heard in certain European cities in recent months."

Shalom said the attacks were targeted against "Jews who came to pray in synagogue, a place of worship, prayer and peace." At the same time, he said the attacks were "perpetrated against Turkey and the Turkish people, and constitute another link in the chain of global terrorism that has struck against Mombasa, Bali, Saudi Arabia, and other targets."

Shalom said Israel expects that the international community will not only condemn this terrorism, but also use all the means at its disposal to fight it and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The Foreign Ministry released a statement charging the suicide car blasts "criminal terror attacks" and that it will offer Turkey any assistance that might be required.

Minister-without-Portfolio Natan Sharansky, responsible for Jerusalem and Diaspora Affairs, said the attack proves that Islamic anti-Semitism has "moved up a step."

Sharansky said these attacks are "a tragic consequence of the tolerance the world is showing toward ant-Semitism in general and Islamic anti-Semitism in particular."

Sharansky said the world should not be surprised by the attacks at a time when a virulently anti-Semitic Syrian television program is broadcast around the Arab world, and the world remains quiet. This type of incitement, he said, prepares the ground for Moslem anti-Semites to then move on to physical attacks against Jews.

"The world must understand that Islamic anti-Semitism and Islamic terror are the same," Sharansky said, and that "together they represent an existential threat to all of us – Jews and non-Jews. As a result, a war against terrorism must include a war against anti-Semitism."

Jonathan Peled, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman, said terrorism is a global threat that has to be challenged and dealt with jointly by the international community. "We should stop turning a blind eye towards all the incitement and hatred that is coming out of certain parts of the world," he added.

Government spokesman Avi Panzer said that Israel did not know exactly who was responsible for the attacks Saturday but blamed Muslim terrorist fundamentalist organizations.

"Jews worshipping on the Sabbath in their synagogue were killed. Bystanders were killed and wounded. This is the act of murderers," Pazner told Sky News.

Pazner said that Jewish people today are the victims of terrorism as a result of the incitement against Israel on display in parts of Europe and the Muslim world.

"The western world has to consider whether the negative attitude towards Israel is leading to dangerous developments not only here in Israel but the rest of the world. Terrorism is the enemy of peace in the world. Nobody can go forward on the road to peace as long as terrorism threatens," Pazner added.

Relations between Israel and Turkey have warmed considerably over the past 10 years, against the background of shared strategic interests.

The Israeli air force regularly trains over Turkish airspace, and according to Israeli media reports, the Israeli and Turkish intelligence services share sensitive information about military developments in Syria and Iran and the growth of Islamic militant groups in the Middle East.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell called his Turkish counterpart "to extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to the victims and their families and to the Turkish people," State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said.

"We will assist the Turkish government in every way possible to respond to this heinous act of terror and its perpetrators."

US President George W. Bush condemned the bombings "in the strongest possible terms."

"The focus of these attacks on Turkey's Jewish community, in Istanbul's synagogues where men, women, and children gathered to worship God, remind us that our enemy in the war against terror is without conscience or faith," he said in a statement.

"Javier Solana, EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, expressed his horror after the two terrorist attacks that killed many innocents and injured many others in Istanbul," read a statement. "Solana has sent his sympathy and condolences to the Turkish government and to the families of the victims.

"The attacks close to the two synagogues are an unacceptable expression of intolerance and rejection that have to be eradicated."

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw expressed "contempt" for the perpetrators of the attacks. "I utterly deplore and condemn this act of terrorism," said Straw. "Those responsible deserve nothing less than the contempt and condemnation of the entire international community."

Straw said he was "particularly appalled that these attacks were carried out against ordinary people engaged in peaceful worship."

Pope John Paul II sent his condolences to Turkey and called for an end to violence and terrorism spawned by religious intolerance.

In a message conveyed by the Vatican secretary of state, John Paul also said he was praying for the souls of the dead, and for their families.

John Paul called for all the people of the world "to mobilize themselves in favor of peace and against terrorism, in respect for the freedom of beliefs and personal convictions, so that religious affiliation will never again be a source of conflicts that bloody and disfigure humanity," his message said.

Italy, which holds the European Union presidency, also sent a message of condolences, saying Italy and Turkey both were living together "the tragic consequences of this vile manifestation of violence." It was an apparent reference to the deaths of 19 Italians in a truck bombing outside the Italian Carabinieri barracks in the southern Iraqi town of Nasiriyah on Wednesday.

The message, from Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, said the attacks confirmed the need to continue to fight "every form of terrorism with the maximum determination."

Premier Silvio Berlusconi phoned the president of the Union of Italian Jewish Communities, Amos Luzzatto, to express his solidarity with Italian Jews and to condemn the attack, the ANSA news agency reported.

And Italy's interior minister, Giuseppe Pisanu was due to visit Rome's main synagogue later Saturday to pay homage to the dead.

France condemned the "odious" suicide attacks Saturday on two synagogues in Istanbul that President Jacques Chirac said can only strengthen the fight against anti-Semitism and terrorism.

"France condemns with the greatest vigor the odious double attack" that killed at least 17 people and injured more than 200 others, the French Foreign Ministry said.

Chirac, in a letter to Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, said that terrorist attacks "of such barbarity can only provoke anger and indignation and strengthen the determination of democratic nations to combat together anti-Semitism and all forms of intolerance, as well as fight unceasingly against terrorism."

I have to believe that the torching of the Jewish school near Paris, the bombing in Istanbul, and the anniversary of Kristallnacht are all connected. Organized anti-Semitism on this level hasn't been seen since WWII.

Israel is tolerating and financing the acolytes of Hitler and Saddam at home. If they resolved to wipe them out, that would really show they took their own slogan of "Never Again!" seriously.

2 posted on 11/15/2003 8:08:49 PM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)

Until Israel acts, and acts decisively, terror attacks both in Israel and around the world will accelerate. At some point critical mass occurs, then it is too late.

Islamofascism, radical Islam, *etc.* is not only anti-semitic, it's anti everything that is good, decent, life-affirmining. It's EVIL incarnate, the devil.

5 posted on 11/16/2003 4:24:28 AM PST by veronica ("I just realised I have a perfect part for you in "Terminator 4"....)

If you are not Jewish remember-- first the Synagogues and the Jews, than the Christian churches and their worshippers.

Acts decisively EXACTLY HOW? You always express these incredibly strong opinions. OK, fine, back it up. What is your plan for Israel to deal with terrorism? Tell me in detail. If it makes even the vaguest kind of sense I will send it on--you would be surprised where. I'm not expecting much, but here is your chance to surprise me.

7 posted on 11/16/2003 10:35:58 AM PST by anotherview ("Ignorance is the choice not to know" -Klaus Schulze)

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.