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Turkey

Turkey, officially the Republic of Turkey, is located partially in the continent of Asia and partially in Europe. It shares borders with Greece and Bulgaria to the Northwest, Iran to the east and Iraq to the southeast. It also shares various borders with Syria, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

70%-75% of Turkey's population are Turks, and 19% are Kurds, making them the country's largest minority group. The country's capital is Ankara, and the largest city and financial city is Istanbul.

As of November 2021, the President of Turkey is Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has served in this position since 2014. Prior to that, he served as Prime Minister of the country from 2003-2014. 

Since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011, an estimated 3.6 million Syrian refugees have taken up residence in Turkey, most of them living with temporary residence permits. 

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 Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech during a protest against the recent killings of Palestinian protesters on the Gaza-Israel border and the U.S. embassy move to Jerusalem, in Istanbul, Turkey May 18, 2018.

Turkey attempts to establish a foothold in the Palestinian arena, Arab countries refuse

 Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan meets with Ismail Haniyeh, leader of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Istanbul, Turkey, April 20, 2024.

Political symbolism: Turkey hosts Hamas leaders as if Hamas is a state

 A Palestinian flag flutters as activists ride a boat during a rally ahead of the 4th anniversary of the Mavi Marmara Gaza flotilla incident, at the seaport of Gaza City May 29, 2014.

Flotilla with humanitarian aid can lead to catastrophe

 Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan meets with Ismail Haniyeh, leader of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Istanbul, Turkey, April 20, 2024.

Erdogan meets Hamas leader in Istanbul, discusses efforts to reach Gaza ceasefire

By REUTERS
 TURKEY’S PRESIDENT Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi shake hands following a news conference in Ankara last week. It is not clear if Iran’s enablers Qatar and Turkey or its allies Russia and China actually call the shots in Tehran or have any influence, says the writer.

Turkey's Erdogan: Israel's Netanyahu solely responsible for recent Middle East tensions

By REUTERS
 ranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian attends a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Moscow, Russia December 7, 2023

Iran says it gave warning before attacking Israel. US says that's not true

By REUTERS
 Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech during a protest against the recent killings of Palestinian protesters on the Gaza-Israel border and the U.S. embassy move to Jerusalem, in Istanbul, Turkey May 18, 2018.

Iran informed Turkey in advance of its operation against Israel - Turkish source

By REUTERS
Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, carrying pro-Palestinian activists to take part of a humanitarian convoy, leaves from Sarayburnu port in Istanbul, Turkey May 22, 2010.

Mavi Marmara 2: New aid flotilla to sail from Turkey to 'break siege' of Gaza

 TURKISH PRESIDENT Recep Tayyip Erdogan leaves a news conference during a NATO leaders summit in Vilnius, last year.

Turkey imposes export restrictions on Israel over Gaza as tensions rise

 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses his supporters following his victory in the second round of the presidential election at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Turkey May 29, 2023.

Turkey imposes export restrictions on Israel until Gaza ceasefire

By REUTERS

The Turkish police acquired Ferrari, Bentley, and Porsche without paying

By UDI ETZION/WALLA!
 TURKISH PRESIDENT Recep Tayyip Erdogan leaves a news conference during a NATO leaders summit in Vilnius, last year.

NATO needs to take punitive measures against Erdogan, here's why

 Supporters of Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas, mayoral candidate of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), celebrate at the CHP headquarters following the early results during the local elections in Ankara, Turkey March 31, 2024.

How will the local elections in Turkey affect the Middle East?

Police officers arrive the scene after a fire broke out aat a nightclub in Istanbul, Turkey April 2, 2024

Daytime fire kills 29 people at Istanbul nightclub

By REUTERS
 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan looks on as he delivers statements, in Budapest, Hungary, December 18, 2023

'Anti-Israel talk was for political reasons': Turkey looking to improve relations with Israel

 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan looks on as he delivers statements, in Budapest, Hungary, December 18, 2023

Turkey's resurgent opposition thumps Erdogan in pivotal local elections

By REUTERS
 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan looks on as he delivers statements, in Budapest, Hungary, December 18, 2023

Battle for Istanbul: Mayor Imamoglu seeks to upend Erdogan's hold in pivotal local vote

By KRISTINA JOVANOVSKI/THE MEDIA LINE
 Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech during a protest against the recent killings of Palestinian protesters on the Gaza-Israel border and the U.S. embassy move to Jerusalem, in Istanbul, Turkey May 18, 2018.

What’s behind Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ‘firm’ support for Hamas?

By SHIRA LI BARTOV/JTA