History: Israeli President Addresses Turkey's Parliament

Shimon Peres became the first Israeli President to speak to the legislature of any Muslim country today.

President Shimon Peres of Israel addresses Turkey’s Parliament in Ankara, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007, becoming the first Israeli President to speak before legislature of a Muslim country. Peres expressed optimism that the upcoming peace conference in the United States would help thaw decades of conflict with the Palestinians.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

The country’s Islamist media was not too happy about the visit.

Israeli President Shimon Peres (R) and Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul (L) review a guard of honour during a welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Ankara November 12, 2007. Peres and his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas will deliver speeches at Turkey’s parliament on Tuesday. (REUTERS/Umit Bektas)

In his speech to the Turkish Parliament, Peres warned about the Iranian regime.
The Jerusalem Post reported:

Turkey instills trust, Iran instills fear,” said President Shimon Peres in an address to Turkey’s parliament on Tuesday, becoming the first Israeli president to speak before the legislature of a Muslim country…

Peres expressed Israel’s gratitude to the people in Turkey who opened their doors to Jews when they were expelled from Spain in 1492.

Turkish Sultan Beyazid II accepted Jews into the Ottoman Empire, the predecessor of modern Turkey, after they were expelled from Spain.

“Here, they found a home of tolerance where they could freely practice their religion,” Peres said in his speech, given in Hebrew and translated into Turkish. “I came here to express my gratitude to Turkey.”

Turkey also aided Jews fleeing the Holocaust, including Turkish Jews abroad.


Israeli President Shimon Peres, right, follows a military guard of honour carrying his wreath as he visits the mausoleum of modern Turkey’s founder Kemal Ataturk in Ankara, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2007. Peres is inTurkey for a three-day visit to address Turkey’s Parliament with his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

Meanwhile… The Palestinians are resisting the Israeli’s recognition demand.

RELATED… Israelis speak out for an undivided Jerusalem.

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Jim Hoft is the founder and editor of The Gateway Pundit, one of the top conservative news outlets in America. Jim was awarded the Reed Irvine Accuracy in Media Award in 2013 and is the proud recipient of the Breitbart Award for Excellence in Online Journalism from the Americans for Prosperity Foundation in May 2016. In 2023, The Gateway Pundit received the Most Trusted Print Media Award at the American Liberty Awards.

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