Terror Massacre in Turkey: MK Calls on Jews to Come Home (Aliyah to Israel)

Terror Massacre in Turkey: MK Calls on Jews to Come Home
08:42 Nov 16, '03 / 21 Cheshvan 5764

Foreign Minister Shalom is in Turkey today, following a day of terror in Istanbul. MK Gila Finkelstein (NRP) said that the attacks "are just another reminder that there is only one place for Jews under the sun, and that is in the State of Israel."

Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom is in Turkey today to meet with Jewish community leaders and his counterpart Abdullah Gul, following a day of terror in Istanbul. The toll from yesterday's twin car bomb attacks outside two Istanbul synagogues stands at 23, including six Jews, and over 300 wounded. "The attack scenes are even more horrendous than they appear on television," Shalom said today. "The terrorists' purpose is to attack all those whose values are those of freedom and democracy."

The two car bombs went off within minutes of each other around 9:30 in the morning, as Sabbath morning services were underway. The targeted synagogues, about five kilometers apart, were N'vei Shalom, the city's largest, in which Aharon Cohen was celebrating his Bar Mitzvah, and the Beth Israel synagogue. Menachem Landau, who once headed the Shabak's European department, said that the only security measure he would recommend adding to those currently being taken is to close streets that house synagogues while prayer services are underway. Another former GSS official, Likud MK Ehud Yatom, agreed that this measure is necessary. "I call upon the Turkish authorities," he told Arutz-7 today, "to take this simple step, and I am sure that Jewish institutions all over the world will now take this measure as well."

Turkish media report that two men and a woman have been arrested, and that two Islamic organizations have taken responsibility. One of them is the Islamic Front of the Great East, and the other, heretofore unknown, is the Islamic Infiltrators Front. They are assumed to have been working with Al-Qaeda.

The Jewish community in Turkey released the names of the six murdered Jews: Anna Rubenstein, 85, and her granddaughter Annette, 8 Berta Ozdogen, 28, in her fourth month of pregnancy Yonah Romano, 55, who suffered a fatal heart attack as a result of the blast Avraham Verol, 40 Yoel Cohen Olcher, 20, a security guard

Seventy of the wounded are still hospitalized, including three - all Jews - in serious condition. Many Israelis have traveled to Turkey: Mossad and Shabak representatives, Zaka emergency team members, and relatives of the victims. A large funeral for all six victims is planned for Tuesday. Zaka volunteers report that the burnt Torah scrolls and prayer books will be buried in a traditional "funeral" as well. At least one Torah scroll, which was being used by the Bar Mitzvah boy, was heroically saved by the rabbi of N'vei Shalom.

The Turkish Jewish community numbers some 20,000. Each year, 300,000 Israelis visit Turkey, which is less than an hour's flight away.

At least 30 other Jews, including the Israeli Consul-General and the manager of the El Al office, have been killed in at least nine other terrorist attacks in Turkey over the past three decades. The N'vei Shalom Synagogue was hit in September 1986 when two Abu Nidal terrorists entered, towards the end of the Sabbath services, spraying fire and grenades in every direction. They murdered 22 Jews, including two Israelis.

MK Gila Finkelstein (National Religious Party) said, "The grave events that occurred in Turkey, just as other similar acts against Jews wherever they are ... are just another reminder that there is only one place for Jews under the sun, and that is in the State of Israel. We must do everything in order to bring massive Aliyah [Jewish immigration] to Israel."

My father made yerida (emmigrated from Israel) to the United States. I chose to move in the other direction. I think that aliyah is something every Jew should give serious thought to. If you haven't yet, visit Israel. You will be pleasantly surprised at what you find.

what? High taxes? Socialism? Religious zealots? Constant terrorism? Sorry, I'll stick with the greatest nation ever created - good old USA!

2 posted on 11/16/2003 2:30:44 PM PST by KantianBurke (Don't Tread on Me)

I don't agree with MK Gila Finkelstein. She is promoting isolationism.

All of the Jews in Turkey have more than enough cash to pack up and leave.

If they leave then these 6 Jewish dead will have died for nothing.

Perhaps Gila should invite muslim Turks to come and study in Israel. That might bring about more good than concentrating all Jews in Israel.

3 posted on 11/16/2003 4:10:44 PM PST by a_Turk (Threatened by shadows at night, and exposed in the light....)

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.