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Wed, Dec 29, 2010 | The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center

The reception for the Mavi Marmara at the port of Istanbul. Participants shout "Death to Israel" (IHH website)

The Turkish IHH Continues at the Forefront of anti-Israeli Hate and Incitement Campaign

The Turkish IHH, which directed the flotilla led by the Mavi Marmara, continues at the forefront of an anti-Israeli hate and incitement campaign, adopting the maximalist Palestinian demands, calling for the annihilation of the “Zionist entity” and exploiting and inflating the myth of the Mavi Marmara “heroism.”

Overview

The Turkish IHH, which played a key role in the last flotilla, continues at the forefront of an anti-Israeli hate and incitement campaign waged in Turkey and elsewhere. IHH spokesmen make extensive use of myth of the Mavi Marmara’s “heroism” and have adopted the maximalist Palestinian demands, including the return of the Palestinians “to Jaffa, Tel Aviv and Haifa.”

IHH leader Bülent Yildirim continues using anti-Semitic themes to defame Israel.^[1] He recently claimed that “Zionists” controlled the United States and the global media and repeatedly accused Israel of deliberate “slaughter” aboard the Mavi Marmara. He also claimed that the takeover of the ship was meant to establish Israel’s ownership of the oil and gas fields in the Mediterranean (and was carried out at a location where Israel wants to tap underwater natural gas reserves) and he defended the support IHH provides to Hamas.

The IHH approach was recently expressed at three additional events:

A. At the reception for the Mavi Marmara at the port of Istanbul on December 27: Thousands of people participated in the reception. The families of the operatives killed aboard the ship and representatives from various countries attended, as did Muhammad Sawalha, a Hamas activist who lives in Britain and participates in organizing flotillas. Senior members of the Turkish government did not attend. The crowd shouted “Death to Israel” (Al-Jazeera TV, December 26; Yenisafak, December 27, 2010).

B. At the reception for the Asian convoy during its tour of a number of Turkish cities (the convoy did not reach Istanbul): Convoy participants were welcomed by senior IHH figures. The convoy’s passage through Turkey was exploited for displays of hatred for Israel, although it was not widely covered by the Turkish media.

C. At the inauguration of a building constructed with IHH support in the town of Jabaliya in the northern Gaza Strip, where the IHH representative said he had hopes the Palestinians would return to Jaffa, Tel Aviv and Haifa.

The Reception for the Mavi Marmara in the Port of Istanbul

On December 26 IHH held a reception in the port of Istanbul for the Mavi Marmara, which had returned from being repaired. The boat, which was decorated with Palestinian flags and pictures of the nine IHH operatives killed in the confrontation with the IDF, was received by thousands of Turks shouting “Death to Israel.” The ceremony was attended by families of those killed aboard the Mavi Marmara and representatives from various countries. Among the representatives was Muhammad Sawalha, a Hamas activist from Britain who participates in organizing flotillas. Senior members of the Turkish government did not attend (Al-Jazeera TV, December 26; Yenisafak, December 27, 2010).

IHH leader Bülent Yildirim gave a speech to inflate the myth of the “heroism” of the Mavi Marmara. He praised the struggle against the IDF soldiers and claimed that Israel attacked the ship with “dozens of boats, warships, helicopters and even submarines” and that “the Israeli soldiers used every possible weapon except an atomic bomb.” He admitted that the passengers used force in their struggle against the IDF soldiers, asking if anyone expected them not to use force to resist such an attack.

Bülent Yildirim announced that [IHH] would struggle against “the filth that is Israel” and called for “release from the burden that Israel puts on the back of the Middle East.” He also criticized the leaders of the Islamic countries who, “if they wanted to, could wipe Zionism off the face of the earth.” He said that in a short time representatives from “at least 100 countries” would sail to the Gaza Strip, until the so-called “siege” was totally lifted (Yenisafak, December 26, 2010).

IHH Display of Hatred for Israel during a Reception for the Asian Convoy

IHH has become a sponsor of the Asian convoy, which arrived in Turkey on December 17 on its way to the Gaza Strip (via the Syrian port of Latakia). During a tour of a number of Turkish cities (the convoy did not reach Istanbul) the participants were received by senior IHH figures. Their passage through Turkey was exploited for a display of hatred for Israel. However, the visit was not widely covered by the Turkish media (with the exception of the IHH website, and the local media in places visited by the participants and in the Turkish Islamist press).

In the eastern Turkish city of Diyarbakir a reception was held for the convoy participants and attended by IHH leader Bülent Yildirim. The crowd held Palestinian flags and signs in support of Hamas, as well as posters with the picture of one of the operatives killed aboard the Mavi Marmara, who claimed that he was “a descendant of Salah al-Din.” In his speech Bülent Yildirim said that Israel now had to deal with “all the Salah al-Dins,” and that IHH stood shoulder to shoulder with the oppressed of the earth, “in Turkey, Kurdistan, the Caucasus and Bosnia (Diyarkabirsoz.com, December 19, 2010).

IHH leader Bülent Yildirim speaks at the reception for the convoy (IHH website, December 20, 2010).

During the ceremony Palestinian flags were waved along with signs with anti-Israeli slogans and calls for Muslim unity. One sign read “Palestine is everywhere, the revolution is everywhere” and another referred to the battle of Khaybar, where the armies of Islam killed the Jewish tribes which resisted Muhammad and forced them to convert to Islam. Pictures showed a large sign with Ahmed Yassin, Hamas founder, and one reading “Muslim, when will you awake?” and “Israel, go to hell” (IHH website, December 20, 2010).

Inaugurating a Building in Jabaliya Constructed with IHH Support

On December 15, 2010, a ceremony was held in the Gaza Strip to inaugurate a new apartment building renovated after it was damaged during Operation Cast Lead. The building, in the northeastern Gaza Strip town of Jabaliya (from which rockets have often been launched into Israeli territory), was constructed with IHH funds; the construction was supervised by the public works ministry of the de facto Hamas administration. The ceremony was conducted by Muhammad Kaya, IHH representative in the Gaza Strip,^[2] and attended by senior figures in the de facto Hamas administration, including Yousef al-Mansi, public works minister; Issa al-Nashar, advisor to Ismail Haniya; and other public figures (IHH website, December 23, 2010).

The festive ceremony led by Muhammad Kaya, IHH representative in the Gaza Strip (Hamas website).

During the ceremony, at which the families received the keys to their apartments, Muhammad Kaya gave an anti-Israeli speech. He said, “We [IHH] represent Turkey, and our interest and goal is not to feed the Palestinian people and bring them food, but to help them stand on their feet in face of the occupation’s oppression and support them in confronting their enemies. We are certain that if the force on this land [i.e., the de facto Hamas administration in the Gaza Strip] submitted to imperialist dictates money would flow in from every side, but this force refused [to surrender to all the dictates] and stood firm in the face of challenges.” He added that “We the Turkish Muslim people will continue to stand at the side of the Palestinian people. Our spirit is with theirs, our money is [placed] with theirs, we will remain at their side and support them.” He then thanked those who had helped rebuild the building and said that “the day will come when Palestinians will build their houses in Jaffa, Tel Aviv and Haifa.”^[3]

Muhammad Kaya, IHH representative the Gaza Strip (mohammed-74.maktoobblog.com/page/2 website).

Cutting the ribbon. Second from left: Muhammad Kaya, IHH representative next to Yousef al-Mansi, minister of public works (www.mashhad-as.net/?p=3832 website)

Yousef al-Mansi, public works minister in the de facto Hamas administration, said that the building was located near the [international] border. He said, “We are near a temporary border which was created by the occupation…” He expressed admiration for the Turkish people who were helping the Palestinians, especially IHH, which was funding construction projects in the Gaza Strip. He added, “Despite the differences between our peoples and languages, our [mutual] goal is the same, it is to liberate [all] Palestine” (Hamas’ Felesteen).

Watch a Photo Gallery of the welcoming ceremony for the Mavi Marmara, here.

Notes:

[1] For further information, see the december 15, 2010 article, “IHH Leader Bülent Yildirim: ‘U.S. is Ruled by Zionism'”.

[2] IHH has had a branch office in the Gaza Strip since January 2008. In November 2009 another IHH activist, Izzat Shahin, was sent to Judea and Samaria to open another branch. He transferred several thousand dollars from IHH to Hamas “charitable societies.” In April 2010 he was detained on suspicion of funding terrorism and supporting Hamas and deported to Turkey at the request of Turkish officials. Muhammad Kaya continues as IHH representative in the Gaza Strip, where he has been very active.

[3] http://samanews.com/index.php?act=Show&id=83670, December 15, 2010. Muhammad Kaya referred to Tel Aviv as “Tel al-Zahour,” “the hill of flowers.” The translation close to the Arabic “Tel al-Rabi’a,” the literal Arabic translation of Tel Aviv “the hill of spring.”