In recent times, Turkey has been conducting vigorous activity in Jerusalem’s Armenian Quarter in an effort to gain influence. This was stated in an exclusive article on The Jewish Press website.
As the author has learned, in the last several years Turkish diplomats have been attempting to purchase real estate belonging to local Christians. Ilia Kahapajyan, a resident of the Quarter who owns a museum of rare photographs and documents about the Armenian Genocide, said that a Turkish diplomat tried to persuade him to cease his activities.
Ilia stressed that the diplomat did not threaten him; he asked him to leave.
Property owners in the Armenian Quarter note that representatives of the Turkish government have recently offered several checks in the amount of 3,000 dollars for various needs, but their offers were rejected by local residents.
The article’s author emphasizes that the Turks are also attempting to purchase Armenian property. Several months ago, Quarter residents were astonished by the news that one of the houses was sold to a Muslim at a price three times its actual value. It turned out that the transaction was financed from Turkey.
The increase in Turkey’s activity in Jerusalem and its support for the Muslim Brotherhood are causing concern in Israel. In its recent annual report, the IDF intelligence division named Turkey a threat for the first time.
After mosques were included in the list of tourist sites, the number of Turkish tourists in the city increased. According to Ilia Kahapajyan, Turkish tourists tear down posters and publications about the Armenian Genocide.
The author notes that neither Turkey’s embassy in Israel nor the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency have responded to questions regarding the publication of the article, although they admitted to having received them.
