Turkish Tourism office trying to bring back Israeli travellers

The Turkish Tourism office in Israel is currently formulating a strategic publicity plan for Israelis, which is to be shown in Ankara as part of attempts to overcome the divisions between the two nations.

A few days after the start of the military operation in Gaza,  there were widespread anti-Israel demonstrations throughout Turkey.  Demonstrators carrying Palestinian and Hezbollah flags marched through the streets burning Israeli flags.  Among the incidents was the disruption of a basketball game between Israeli team Bnei Hasharon and the local team from Ankara, resulting in the Israeli players running from the basketball court in fear that they were about to be lynched.

Danny Zimet, Communications Manager for the Turkish Tourism office, was asked to prepare a plan that he believes is necessary to counter the significant damage in relations between the two countries, affecting both business, tourist and social alliances. "It's impossible to damage a relationship of 500 years as a result of one silly statement" explained Zimet.   He intends to arrange discussions with many participants among them key Israeli personnel involved in bi-lateral arrangements between Israel and Turkey, in order to examine the possible options to restore the good relations between the two countries.

 Zimet: "I believe in all honesty that when matters have been resolved, the competent authorities in Israel must prepare a serious explanatory plan for the Turkish people, so that the information that they hear regarding Israel won't be based only on what they see and hear during days of Intifida and war.”