International Holocaust Rememberance Day: Turkey Condemns anti-Semitism

Today is international Holocaust Memorial day, a day established not long ago to honor victims of the Nazi genocide. It took a bit of courage and grace for Turkey to issue a statement condemning the Holocaust and Anti-Semitism. Remember, this is the Middle East, where Holocaust denial and Anti-Semitism are taught in the school systems of many countries, and where even UN schools for Palestinians do not teach about the Holocaust. Turkey maintains good relations with Iran. Iran's President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad insists that the Holocaust is a myth invented by Zionists.

Turkey: Holocaust is most grave crime against humanity in history
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent

The Turkish Foreign Ministry marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Tuesday with a statement in which it condemned the Holocaust and vowed to prevent anti-Semitism, racism, xenophobia and discrimination.

Sources in the Israeli Foreign Ministry say that the Turkish statement was exceptional compared to statements of recent years.

"Condemning the Holocaust as the most grave and unprecedented crime against humanity throughout history, taking necessary precautions to prevent genocides in the future and promoting the endeavors to educate new generations are not only a duty of every member state of the UN, but also an obligation to humanity," the Turkish statement read.

"Stemming from its belief in mutual understanding, tolerance, freedom, security and democracy, Turkey is resolute to continue its stance to prevent anti-Semitism, racism, xenophobia and discrimination."

The Turkish statement also commended Turkish diplomats who risked their lives during the Second World War to save people from the Nazis.

The Turkish statement did not refer specifically to Israel or Jews as victims of the Holocaust.

A few days ago, the Israeli Foreign Ministry released a seven-page report to the "septet" of key cabinet ministers in which Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was charged with indirectly inciting and encouraging anti-Semitism.

According to the report, Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon's humiliation of the Turkish ambassador earlier this month seriously offended Turkey, but also made it clear to Ankara that it had crossed red lines in its relationship with Israel.

The report was written by the Center for Political Research, which performs the ministry's in-house intelligence analysis, and has already been distributed to Israeli embassies and consulates abroad.

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Ayalon, both of Yisrael Beiteinu, are the leaders of the government's aggressive anti-Turkey faction, while Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Industry Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, both of Labor, head the conciliatory, pro-Turkey faction.