Prior to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's forthcoming visit to Cyprus, Turkey's influential media platform "Millî Gazete" recently featured an interview that sparked controversy. Published on its front page, the article levelled serious accusations against the Chabad Hasidic community, branding it a "criminal organization" and alleging its involvement in espionage activities for the Mossad.
Millî Gazete, known for its conservative, extremist views and intermittent anti-Semitic tendencies, highlighted statements from a high-ranking official in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus—a territory internationally unrecognized and under Turkish control. The official criticized Chabad's activities in the region, even though the Hasidic sect does not officially endorse Zionism. Contrary to the Turkish media's portrayal, Chabad is not an arm of the Mossad.
Turkish daily calls Chabad a pro-LGBT Zionist group spying for Mossad in #Cyprus (Kyrenia) https://t.co/4cO2GgHHFC #Israel #Turkey
— Panikos Hadjipanayis (@PHadjipanayis) August 31, 2023
In the interview, the unnamed official asserted that members of the Chabad community undergo training in the United States and subsequently engage in surveillance of the local military in Northern Cyprus. "They strategically purchase properties in proximity to military bases, enabling them to collect data on army activities. I have reported these activities to law enforcement agencies, but my concerns were not only dismissed but also met with life-threatening reprisals," the official stated.
Further, the article accused the Chabad community of establishing links with organized crime and infiltrating governance mechanisms in Northern Cyprus. In an outlandish claim, the official argued that the community is working, guided by U.S. interests and the Mossad, to support the LGBT community within the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
To provide context, Dr. Assa Ofir, a scholar specialized in Turkish politics and history and a lecturer in the Middle East and Political Science Department at Ariel University, spoke to Israeli journalists. He pointed out that the publication belongs to the Felicity Party, which is in ideological alignment with Turkey's President Erdogan's party, despite being in the opposition.
#Turkey's Milli Gazete report alleged that "Chabad commits many crimes" and collaborate with #Israel's Mossad.https://t.co/fXGQXRv8XU
— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) August 30, 2023
"Both the Felicity Party and Erdogan's party originate from the ideological roots of 'The National View,' an Islamist movement founded by Erdogan's political mentor, Necmettin Erbakan," Dr. Ofir explained. "The difference between the two parties isn't ideological; it's about power dynamics. While Erdogan's party, being in power, takes a more pragmatic stance, the Felicity Party enjoys the liberty of opposition to disseminate any news or ideas it desires."
The inflammatory article serves as a testament to the complexities and tensions that characterize Israeli-Turkish relations and the geopolitical intricacies involving the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
