Anti-semitism in Turkey...

Turkey's always been friendly...but it looks like things are changing....

Since Israel's incursion into Gaza in late December, the Muslim majority in Turkey has been incensed and there have been several antisemitic incidents in Istanbul, where a Jewish community of about 25,000 still thrives.

"Down with Israel", and "We don't want you in the Turkish Republic" were slogans painted in red on a building close to Istanbul's Neve Shalom Synagogue. A huge Palestinian flag was unfurled by the street's inhabitants, which has been closed and protected by police vehicles. In addition, Turkish authorities have beefed up security around the Rabbinate and buildings owned by the Jewish Community.

The Israeli Consulate in Istanbul received many threatening emails accompanied by antisemitc slurs. Two synagogues, one in Izmir and the other in Kadiköy have been vandalized with graffiti. It has been reported that some Jews are thinking of leaving the country as they indicate that this is the worst wave of antisemitism they have witnessed, and believe it is exacerbated by PM Erdogan. He recently stormed out of a conference at Davos where he told Israeli President Simon Peres that Israel was murdering children on beaches.

There has been a call in the country to boycott Jewish businesses and in Osmangazi, the largest city in Bursa, Jews were banned from entering a local organization which also bans Armenians.