Turkey Deputy PM: Jewish Diaspora Behind Unrest Against Erdogan Regime

Turkey's deputy prime minister on Monday accused foreign powers, the Jewish Diaspora and international media of triggering the demonstrations that have wracked the country over the last few weeks, according to reports in Turkish media.

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"World powers and the Jewish Diaspora prompted the unrest and have actively encouraged it," Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay said, adding that the international media has played a large part in the "conspiracy as well."

"The ones trying to obstruct Great Turkey’s way will not succeed," he declared.

At the peak of the protests three weeks ago, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan hinted that the demonstrations against his regime were serving the interests of Israel.

The Hurriyet daily reported then that Erdogan told activists from his party, "those to whom we said 'one minute' are now satisfied," referring to an incident from the 2009 World Economic Forum in Davos when he cut Israeli President Shimon Peres off during a debate and said "one minute."

Erdogan accused "interested parties" and foreign television stations of encouraging the unrest, according to the July 13 report in Hurriyet.