Is it safe for Israelis to travel around Turkey?
I'm Israeli, I'm a college student and I want to go on a vacation to Turkey with my older brother for a couple weeks. We have never been before, so I just want to ask is there anything to be concerned about and is it safe for Israelis to travel around in Turkey? Is there anything to avoid?
Turkey - 3 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
I have a couple of Jewish friends in Istanbul who told me that they are very comfortable there. In fact, when their great grandparents fled Cordoba after being expelled by the Christian it was the Ottoman empire which readily accepted them and provided refuge. I have been to Turkey many times and trust me, they are very humane people in spite of their defensiveness so you are bound to feel welcome there. That said, Islamic fanaticism does exist in some remote areas in Turkey as is obvious from the news. I once attended a wedding at a synagoge in Istanbul and they had to block off the entire road because a madman once opened fire there and killed 29 people. I would advise you to keep a low profile about your Jewish identity in rural area.
2 :
Given that Turkey has had a substantial Jewish population for many centuries, I would imagine you won't have too many problems. Yes, really.
3 :
I have some Jewish friends in Turkey, some of them live here in Istanbul, some of them are living in Istanbul but from other cities like Bursa, Izmir and Antakya. You can check out the synagogues of Turkey here: http://www.musevicemaati.com/index.php?contentId=24 http://www.eurasiatourism.com/pages/About_Turkey/Religion/synagogues1.asp http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_synagogues_in_Turkey You don't have to tell everyone that you're an Israeli or Jewish straightforwardly, because some people may be sensitive on the Israeli-Palestinean issues but generally, you can do whatever you want. Turks are in fact tolerant and hospitable people. Even though it was Ramadan - the religious diet month according to the Moon Calendar, I saw lots of people drinking beer and wine on the streets, in the parks, taverns and restaurants...etc. because it's a secular country and nobody can blame anyone on their religious/non-religious preferences.
Read more other entries :
