2009-10-06
Thousands attend anti-Israel rally in Istanbul held in support of Arab riots in Jerusalem. Foreign Ministry says moderate forces in turkey will know difference between incitement, facts
A mass anti-Israel rally was held in Istanbul Monday. The demonstrators, who rallied in support of the riots in east Jerusalem, carried Palestinian Authority flags and posters of the al-Aqsa Mosque, and set Israeli flags on fire.
"Turkey has two facets – the modern European one, which is rational and tolerant, and the Islamist one, which is sometimes hostile to Israel," a Foreign Ministry source told Ynet.
"These complexities dictate much of the complex and delicate relations Israel has with Turkey."
The radical Muslims who incite the riots in Jerusalem want nothing else but to damage Israel relations with the more moderate Muslim forces, added the source.
"(The ministry) was not surprised by the rally… We have every confidence that the rational, leading elements in Turkey will know the difference between outrageous incitement and the facts, which prove that Israel is seeking peace and coexistence."