Karel Valansi'nin kaleminden...

A  disturbed man pulled the trigger in Las Vegas last Sunday night. He rained bullets down from a hotel room window on the 32nd floor of a nearby hotel into a country music concert killing at least 59 people and injuring 527 others. His name was Stephen Paddock, a 64-year-old man from Mesquite, Nevada. He opened fire on masses of people with no apparent reason. According to his brother Eric Paddock, he was an ordinary guy living in a quiet retirement community with no religious or political affiliations. However, he fired rounds of ammunition into the crowd and killed himself when the police located him.

19 Mart 2016’da İstiklal Caddesinde korkunç bir terör saldırısı düzenlenmişti. Bu saldırıda yaralanan ve hayatını kaybedenler arasında bir gurme tur ile İstanbul’u ve Türkiye’ye özgü tatları tanımak için gelen İsrailli turistler de vardı. Turun organizatörü David Dudi Califa, yaşadığı acıya rağmen saldırıdan sonra tekrar ve tekrar İstanbul’a geri geldi. Üstelik bu son gelişinde iki toplumu kaynaştırmak, ülkemizi tanıtmak için İsrail’in önde gelen şeflerini de yanında getirdi. 19 Mart 2016’da İstanbul korkunç bir terör saldırısına sahne oldu. Bu seferki kurbanlar misafirlerimiz, İstanbul’u gezen turistlerdi. ‘Gurme tur’ ile İstanbul’a özgü tatları tanımak için gelen İsrailli turistlerin neşe ile başlayan tatilleri çok acı sona erdi. Ancak ne onların ne de turu organize eden David Dudi Califa’nın İstanbul ve Türk insanı sevgisi bitmedi. İşte bu acı saldırının bana kazandırdığı en güzel dost Dudi. Saldırıda o da yaralanmıştı. Onu saldırının hemen ardından evinde ziyaret etmiştim. Ban...

On March 19th, Istiklal Avenue, one of the busiest pedestrian avenues in Istanbul was stroke with a horrific terror attack. A suicide bomber detonated himself in the middle of a tourist group. Several people died and many were injured, as a result. Among the casualties, there were Israeli tourists who were visiting Istanbul to experience the exquisite Turkish cuisine. In October, seven months following the attack, Yehudit Sarig and her daughter Rotem, who were severely wounded in the attack came for the first time to Istanbul for a closure, and also to meet a special man, their hero. On March 19th 2016, we were all shaken by the terror attack on Istiklal Avenue, a pedestrian avenue lined with international stores and foreign consulates in the heart of Istanbul. Four people were killed in the suicide attack on a Saturday morning. All were foreign nationals; Israeli citizens Simha Siman Demri, Yonathan Suher, Avraham Godman and Iranian Ali Rıza Khalman. 39 people, including 24 for...

- He had promised that he would come back to Turkey and he kept his word -  Only five months ago, on March 19th, we were all shaken by the terror attack on Istiklal Avenue, in Istanbul. Among the people who lost their lives or got injured was an Israeli tourist group on a gourmet tour. They were here to experience the exquisite flavors and cuisine of Istanbul.  David Dudi Califa was the organizer of that gourmet tour. Dudi returned to Istanbul for the first time after the attack. Together we had a delicious meal at one of Tarabya’s (a neighborhood of Istanbul alongside Bosphorus) fish restaurants and talked about his recollection of the events.  On March 19th, Istiklal Avenue, one of the busiest avenues in Istanbul was stroke with a horrific terror attack. A suicide bomber blew himself up in the middle of a tourist group. Several people died and many were injured, as a result. Among the casualties, there were Israeli tourists who were visiting our country to exper...

Ataturk Airport is the main entrance gate to Turkey for most of its visitors. It is also the hub of Turkish Airlines which connects the business world with Turkey and carries many passengers who choose Turkey as their travel destination. Tuesday night, three suicide bombers opened fire at passengers in three different sections including the arrivals section of the airport’s international terminal with automatic rifles before blowing themselves up. Ataturk Airport was shut down for the night; scheduled flights were diverted to other cities. There was no entry to or exit from the airport for hours. The flights had resumed by Wednesday morning. Security measures have been increased at Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport following the attack. A gag order has been immediately issued on the attack. Internet and Twitter connections were slowed down and this caused more panic among the public who were eager to hear news about their relatives flying back to Istanbul. The terrorist at...

I've been asked a lot lately how we Jews cope in Turkey with the recent surge in terrorism. The answer isn't clear cut. As a Turkish Jew, a woman, and a journalist covering the Middle East, I am often asked about anti-Semitism, freedom of the press and the difficulties facing women in Turkey. Recently, a new question has been added to the list: “How do you cope with the terror attacks?” The recent surge in terrorism has been shocking by all means. Especially when foreign missions – like Israel – issue travel warnings about imminent attacks, and when reports surface that the Islamic State seeks to target Israelis and Jews. Remembering the recent attacks on Jews in Europe – the kosher market in Paris, the Jewish museum in Belgium, the Grand Synagogue in Denmark and the Jewish school in Toulouse – makes us even more wary. And when three Israelis were killed along with one Iranian in Istanbul last month, the terror felt ever closer to home.