Tel Aviv, Israel – In a move reflecting the peak of diplomatic tensions between Tel Aviv and Ankara, the Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism announced the inclusion of 29 prominent Turkish figures on a list of those banned from entering Israeli-controlled territories. This was referred to as a “blacklist.”
Prominent targeted names
The list is topped by Bilal Erdoğan, son of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, along with a number of other influential figures in Turkish society. These include Fehmi Bülent Yıldırım, head of the Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH), and Ali Erbaş, former head of the Directorate of Religious Affairs. The list also includes academics, media figures, and leaders in the charitable sector.
Details of the decision and Israeli incitement
The ministry forwarded the names to the Population and Immigration Authority to ensure the ban is enforced at all crossings.
Israel bases this measure on allegations including direct incitement against Israel, active advocacy for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, and the promotion of what Tel Aviv describes as “anti-Semitism” and “delegitimization,” particularly in light of the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Shekli described Turkey as a “hostile state” and part of the “axis of evil.” He also asserted that this step is just the beginning of pursuing those promoting the boycott.
