Kalkan Turkey Forum - EnjoyKalkan.com
Kalkan Discussion => Politics & Debate => Topic started by: Mags on April 11, 2016, 12:22:12 PM
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Did anyone see the report in yesterday's Sunday Times? It says:
"Israel issued an urgent call on Friday for its citizens to leave Turkey immediately, citing fears of an imminent terror attack.
The United States has also advised its citizens to leave, warning of “credible threats” in Istanbul and the coastal city of Antalya. Israelis were told to avoid tourist areas and to get out of the country as soon as possible. Israeli authorities said the threat level was both “concrete” and “high”. The alert also applied to tourist sites across the country, in contrast with previous warnings which focused on Istanbul, synagogues and Jewish schools."
Not good news. And I tend to trust the Israeli intelligence service in these matters. :( :( :(
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I receive all warnings from the US Embassy in Ankara. The warning did NOT say that all Americans should leave. It says:
"The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens of increased threats from terrorist groups throughout Turkey and to avoid travel to southeastern Turkey. Effective March 29, 2016, the Department of State ordered the departure of family members of U.S. government personnel posted to U.S. Consulate in Adana and family members of U.S. government civilians in Izmir and Mugla provinces, and restricted official travel to Turkey to “mission-critical” travel only. " Only the families of government employees are being removed, not private citizens or tourists.
It also advises Americans to be alert to their surroundings and to avoid crowds, gatherings, demonstrations and SE Turkey.
A 2nd alert of April 9 speaks of credible threats to public squares in Istanbul and docks in Antalya.
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Typical press - take a fact, distort it and sensationalise any part of it that might possibly sell one or two more papers. No wonder people are deserting the newspapers in favour of the much more reliable BBC News online.
(Irony alert).
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I would say the The Times isn't usually in the sensationalist school of reporting, quite the opposite...they tend to be balanced and fact driven. This particular article wasn't in a prominent place, so certainly not headlines and therefore trying to sell papers off the back of it....could anyone really see past the Cameron headlines this weekend anyway? I did read it though and it did worry me. Something similar also appeared in The Guardian on Saturday http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/09/american-citizens-turkey-us-embassy-travel-warning-airstrikes-isis
The fact remains that Israel believes the victims of the recent suicide bombing in Istanbul were targeted (3 of the 4 who died were from Israel) and they are telling their citizens to rule out ANY travel to Turkey. This is not without good reason as Turkey and Israel have been working hard to rebuild their fractured relationship since 2010.
We are living in uncertain times...but it does make us more vigilant. Turkey will have to ride the storm this year...maybe the next few years - who knows? I really think the fact that its a Muslim country and ISIL (or whatever they call themselves this week..) are a radicalised version of the same religion is what is really putting people off...not the border proximity etc. I never hear people say they are worried about travelling to France ???
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I really think the fact that its a Muslim country and ISIL (or whatever they call themselves this week..) are a radicalised version of the same religion is what is really putting people off...not the border proximity etc. I never hear people say they are worried about travelling to France ???
I bet the same people wouldn't think twice about travelling to Croatia...
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Or the Maldives...