Turkey Accused of Using Antisemitism to Prosecute IDF Soldiers

Israel's Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism has released new research alleging that Turkey is weaponizing antisemitism as a political tool against Israel. The ministry claims that Turkish organizations, specifically WOLAS and Freedom Watch Platform, are employing advanced open-source intelligence (OSINT) methods to identify and target Israeli soldiers and dual citizens. The stated goal is to initiate legal proceedings against them based on false accusations of "war crimes."

The ministry asserts that this campaign is part of a "structured policy" orchestrated by the Turkish government and its institutions. The research indicates that this mechanism is deeply embedded within Turkey's educational and religious systems, extending to international organizations that actively pursue Israeli soldiers and citizens. The ministry stated, "In recent years, Turkey has established a state mechanism whereby antisemitism, delegitimization, and legal warfare against Israelis are carried out with high intensity as part of a structured and predetermined policy of the country's leadership and its institutions."

According to the findings, the Turkish government, under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has transformed animosity towards Israel and the Jewish people into a broad governmental foundation. The ministry's research highlights the alleged connections between these Turkish organizations and terror groups, including Hamas. These groups reportedly gather intelligence from public sources, including Israeli websites, to build evidentiary cases for legal action against Israelis with Turkish citizenship, and even submit findings to international tribunals in The Hague.

The research details the operational methods of Freedom Watch Platform, which allegedly monitors social media, particularly pages associated with the Jewish community in Turkey, to identify targets. The platform then maps their family and social connections, analyzes photos and online materials to identify military affiliations, and subsequently publishes the individuals' details. These details are then allegedly passed to lawyers to file complaints with Turkish authorities. The ministry cited a case from February 2026 involving a former soldier with dual Israeli-Turkish citizenship, who was allegedly targeted after her mother posted about her IDF enlistment.

Amichai Chikli, Israel's Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, stated, "Turkey under the dictatorial and Islamistic regime of Erdoğan is using all the tools at its disposal to harm the State of Israel as much as possible." He urged Israel to sever ties with Erdoğan's regime and prepare for potential widespread antisemitic incitement from Turkish leadership and educational systems. Avi Cohen-Skel, Director-General of the ministry, added that "as a result, semi-governmental organizations are chasing IDF soldiers with Turkish citizenship. Instead of dealing with and arresting Hamas terrorists operating freely in their country, Turkish institutions are promoting activity against the State of Israel."