Turkey Uses Special Passports to Facilitate Entry for Hostile Activists to Israel
Despite maintaining official ties with Israel, Turkey is reportedly operating a unique system that allows hostile Islamist and pro-Palestinian activists to enter Israel using special passports. These passports, officially designated for civil servants, ministers, and former mayors, are allegedly issued more broadly to individuals associated with NGOs, academics, and journalists, bypassing standard visa requirements for regular Turkish citizens.
This "Turkish passport maneuver" creates a loophole, enabling activists from NGOs that are not part of official bilateral agreements to travel freely between Turkey and Israel. These organizations often operate under the guise of humanitarian aid, distributing food and donations to educational and medical institutions, particularly in East Jerusalem and around the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
One such organization, Mirasimiz (Our Heritage), focuses on humanitarian aid and aligns with the Turkish government's agenda. Research from the JISS institute indicates that Turkish activity in Jerusalem, primarily through the state aid agency TIKA, exceeds $40 million annually. Mirasimiz documents its activities in East Jerusalem, emphasizing support for orphans.
Another entity, the Yunus Emre Institute, functions as a cultural center under the Turkish Consulate in Jerusalem, offering Turkish language classes to hundreds of Palestinian students. The "Association of Volunteers for Jerusalem" (Kudusder) ostensibly focuses on Jerusalem but also engages in significant activity in Gaza, promoting pro-Hamas messages and operating a medical center.
Further complicating the situation, the "Umut Vakti" organization, based in Istanbul, conducts extensive operations in Jerusalem and at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, providing donations and medical aid. While its operational hub is in Turkey, its activists are physically present in Jerusalem. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has acknowledged the issue and is reportedly examining it in cooperation with relevant bodies.
