The moment protesters break through barricades in front of Prime Minister's residence. One newscaster calls this by its name, a popular uprising. Tomorrow a nationwide strike is on horizon, joined by universities. The military is more fragile than ever.
In Tel Aviv unbelievable photos of main freeway blocked at 12AM. Protests happening throughout Israel. Netanyahu's firing the Defense Minister is being declared as the blatant attempt to transform the country to a dictatorship. Netanyahu has sparked a fire he has yet to see-huge.
It is 1AM in the morning and thousands of people are now protesting outside of the Knesset. The gov is starting to show cracks and Netanyahu his getting pushed to the corner. This could cost him his gov--crucial days ahead. A crisis like no other.
"Bibi to prison!" shout the protesters. Netanyahu played with fire and has got burnt. They are no longer calling for him just to freeze his judicial coup, he needs to stop all his reforms which will most likely lead to the end of his gov. Netanyahu is scrambling. Hiding at home.
One protester organizer: we will be on the Ayalon Freeway until the morning then to Jerusalem. He stresses protests will continue until to Netanyahu gov falls, stressing by firing the Defense Minister he's threatening security of the state. He is not fit to serve. We will see.
Police are clashing with the protesters. The horse brigade pulled back and the water cannon is getting ready to attack--Attack starts. Of all the protests, this one is turning into one of the most violent. The police attacked with little warning. It is 3:00 AM. #TelAviv
For now, I'm ending thread. Tomorrow will be a huge; in history of Israel we have never seen its society at such a breaking point. Here's a clip of the police attacking and arresting protesters head on. Highway is now clear. A new day tomorrow. #TelAviv
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The Turkish off-the-rails evangelical cultish Islamic preacher, Adnan Oktar-famed throughout the Islamic world via his work as Harun Yahya-has been sentenced to an 8,658-year prison sentence. For years the gov gave him free rein to spread his off-the-wall anti-evolutionary ideas.
He was found guilty of: "leading a criminal gang, engaging in political and military espionage, sexual abuse of minors, rape, blackmail and causing torment." How he was only arrested in 2018 remained a mystery since for decades it was clear he was leading a cult.
His TV was host to many international people were lured to his show unknowing what they were getting into. I remember warning one journalist to do her research before appearing on the show-I might add despite his early rampant antisemitism, he hosted quite a few Israelis as well.
Thousands of students at a university festival in Kayseri, in the middle of Anatolia shout in unison: "long live Mustafa Kemal [Ataturk]." For a gov 2 decades in power that wished to replace this ideology with their own, this can't be the expected outcome.
I should've said they're singing since they're singing the "İzmir Marşı." This song over last few years has found renewed popularity; during last elections, it literally became a rallying song against gov. I might add singing it here does not make one a hardcore Kemalist as well.
I get those who are criticizing this as one in the same. But after 20 years of rule, and a growing list of bans in the country, including music festivals like this one, it seems this is they way to get protest out. Now, what this means for 2023 elections is something different.
Canan Kaftancıoğlu, the head of Istanbul's main CHP opposition branch, is sent to prison today to serve a near 5 year sentence for social media posts against gov (insulting public official; degrading Turkey; insulting pres). She's architect of Istanbul opposition election win.
Some articles are mentioning she very well could be released later today, or, in a few days, contingent she adheres to ban on doing politics. I might add that one of the media posts she was convicted of is almost a decade old. Of course, I will keep all posted as events unfold.
However, that is the sad reality in Turkey. Numerous people sit years on charges--then suddenly released; others convicted, arrested, and then released. The arbitrariness of law when dealing with political cases, is the Kafkaesque part about it. How can one keep up. Impossible.
What happens when a Rabbi gets stuck in the snow in Istanbul? He gets saved and taken to a mosque where he prays morning prayer, stressing Jews are free to pray in mosques, not like churches which are forbidden. Why Istanbul? He is in charge of giving kosher licenses for export.
Thanks to @Jofischer007 for sharing this article with me which appeared in Yediot (unfortunately I could only read the part that was not behind the paywall). Also, @gelibolu2015 also shared a different tweet about this. So, that turns out to be nice feel good story for the day :)
And, importantly I forgot to mention his name, Rabbi Israel Elbaum from Benei Barak. Over the last ten years food imports from Turkey are just growing and keep in mind, sometimes w/in Haredi community at times they have their own type of licenses so these trips must happen often.
Yesterday I watched #TheClub (#Kulüp#Netflix). Since released days ago its taken over Turkish audiences w/its depiction of Jewish life in Istanbul in the 1950s. I admit hearing Ladino and seeing a life that once was brought tears to my eyes. Indeed its a beautiful story as well.
First a huge shout out to director @zeynepguntan (Zeynep Gunay Tan) for doing a brilliant job at bringing together a crew of actors, studio people, and much more. Especially for being so sensitive in capturing Jewish life, by including a set of advisors from the Jewish community.
I perhaps will write more on it later connecting it to some research I'm doing on Jewish communities in Turkey. I admit when watching its best to take off my "historian jacket." In this short thread, I will address some issues that stood out to me w/out giving away the scenario.
Huge: After 7 months of protests by students and faculty over state's appointment of pro-gov rector to Bogazici University, Erdogan has removed Melih Bulu from his position. A rare moment where protests produced results. Will the university now be able to appoint its own rector?
This seems absolutely unbelievable to so many. The protests led to many arrests from an active student body and from faculty who stood out on the lawn of the prestigious state school turning backs to the rector's office. But it is now in the news, so, yes, it seems very real.
Apparently, Melih Bulu the rector who has not budged an inch did not believe this himself. If this Instagram story being shared is correct, Bulu shared this calling it a "fake news invasion," which he took down shortly. Could it be that he really had no idea this was coming?