Jerusalem entrepreneurs give shops Turkish names to attract customers

By Abdel Raouf Arnaout

JERSUALEM (AA) – Walking along the streets of Jerusalem, one will easily spot several shops bearing Turkish names.

Turkish products are very popular in the occupied city and Turkey, a country located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, is a top tourist destination for many Palestinians, according to the city’s tourism offices.

While previously names like Istanbul and Turkey were common with places selling Turkish cuisine and products, new shops with Turkish names such as Gümüş meaning silver, and Güzel which means beautiful are also increasing.

"We chose this name because people in Palestine in general and Jerusalem in particular love the Turks and their products very much," Muhammed Sidr, the 26-year-old owner of Gümüş shops for Islamic clothing, told Anadolu Agency.

Gümüş is located along the Al-Zahraa Street, one of Jerusalem’s most prominent commercial streets, while two other branches are located in the Kafr Aqab neighborhood, north of the city, and in Shuafat camp.

"We selected this name because of our love for the Turks, and when we opened the shop we organized a competition about the meaning of the name Gümüş. We taught the people the meaning of the name and its correct pronunciation," Sidr said.

He added that some people who previously traveled to Turkey were familiar with the name and were more curious to know its meaning.

"Many people traveled to Turkey and came across this name there, and they asked us about its meaning, and we told them that it means silver."

Sidr hailed the Turks as "respectful, welcoming, and generous people."

High quality

Sidr said the Palestinian confidence in the Turkish goods has encouraged him to choose to import Turkish products over goods from Chinese suppliers.

"We are dealing with seven Turkish companies because many people prefer their goods. In the past, we imported goods from China but once we introduced Turkish goods, many Palestinians loved them because of their high quality," Sidr said. "There is confidence in Turkish goods."

Sidr sells Turkish-made women's Islamic dress, which comes in different designs and colors.

"People are looking for quality, and we provide it,” he said.

Attraction

Like Gümüş shop, Güzel shop, located on the city's famous Salah al-Din Street, is also famous for its Turkish goods.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, the shop owner, Ibrahim Wuzuz, said the name Güzel was well-chosen "because the goods are all from Turkey, and we thought of a beautiful Turkish name that would attract the public."

He echoed Sidr's words that Turkish goods are "of very high quality" and at affordable prices.

"The quality of Turkish goods is high, and their price is affordable for everyone. They may be more expensive than Chinese goods, but their quality makes the price worth it," Wuzuz said, adding that the demand for Turkish goods increases by day.

Ertuğrul in Jerusalem

Another Turkish name adopted by shops is the historical hero Ertugrul. With its TV series expanding popularity in the Arab world, a large restaurant in the Kafr Aqab neighborhood, north of Jerusalem, has been named Ertugrul.

On its facade, Turkish flags as well as the flags of the Kayi tribe as shown in the Ertugrul series can be seen flying.

Osama Abu Hadid, a chef at the Ertuğrul restaurant, told Anadolu Agency that the name Ertuğrul is known by most of the city’s population and the fact that the restaurant serves both Turkish and Palestinian food made the business successful.

Several screens in the restaurant overlooking the old Jerusalem International Airport, which has been closed down by the Israeli authorities, show the Ertuğrul series and play its famous music.

"We show the series and its music, and when a party is organized in the restaurant, we play the beautiful and distinctive music of the Ertuğrul drama," Abu Hadid said, noting that the restaurant has garnered 10,000 followers on its Facebook page as a result.

Abu Hadid said he would like to see the Ertuğrul actors such as Engin Altan Düzyatan visit Jerusalem in the future.

Jerusalem became part of the Ottoman Empire after the defeat of the Mamluks in the battle of Marj Dabiq in 1517 until its fall at the hands of the allied forces in World War I in 1917, bringing an end to 400 years of Ottoman rule over the historical city.

Historians note that Jerusalem enjoyed peace and prosperity during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, who reconstructed the city’s walls and the Dome of the Rock mosque.

*Writing by Ibrahim Mukhtar in Ankara