Unlike public opinion in Christian countries, where sympathy for the victims of the Palestine outbreaks was universal, public opinion in the Republic of Turkey and particularly in Constantinople, took an hostile turn and Jewish leaders were compelled, apparently under pressure, to issue a statement disavowing their interest in the Jewish victims of the events.
The Turkish newspapers published articles attacking the Jews and claiming that Jewish leaders had gathered secretly and decided to open a subscription for the relief of the Palestine victims. Adverse comment on this alleged action was accompanied by assertions pointing to this act as “an expression of Jewish solidarity.”
The newspaper “Miliet,” published a statement by the Turkish Chief Rabbi Bedjarano, declaring: “We did not open a subscription in favor of the Palestine Jews and are not collecting one cent for this purpose. I can tell you that not one of our Jews thought of it. We Turkish Jews are completely disinterested in everything occurring outside the frontiers of this country. The sentiments felt, occasioned by the events in Palestine, are purely humanitarian.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
