Erdogan: ‘Jewish capital’ behind New York Times

Turkish president says Gray Lady has been hostile to his country’s leaders since the waning days of the Ottoman Empire

By JTA 7 June 2015, 11:12 pm Edit

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech in Istanbul during a Turkish tradesmen's meeting, on May 25, 2015. (AFP/Ozan Kose)

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey said at a campaign rally Saturday that “Jewish capital” was behind The New York Times.

Erdogan made his remarks a day before Turks voted on Sunday. Polls predicted victory for Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, though with a much smaller margin than in 2011.

On Saturday, Erdogan told a rally in the eastern province of Ardahan that The New York Times has taken a consistent stand against Turkey’s leaders since the waning days of the Ottoman Empire.

“It’s clear who their patrons are. There is Jewish capital behind it, unfortunately,” Erdogan said, the French news agency AFP reported.

Erdogan, who has spewed anti-Israel rhetoric in the past several years, reportedly hopes to change the country’s constitution and give the presidency sweeping powers. The Times wrote in an editorial of his ambition.