TNT History Archives: The 'Mısır Apartmanı' and MOSSAD's Founding (1947)

türkçe links to related Turkish article

(Milliyet Newspaper, 21 December 2018)

sami günzberg see this TNT report for more on Sami 
Günzberg, Atatürk's dentist and an active participant in 
Zionist activities in the first half of the 20th century.


         The  Mısır Apartmanı' in Istanbul

Egyptian Khedive Abbas Halim Paşa had the Armenian architect
Hovsep Aznavuryan build the 'Mısır Apartmanı' on İstiklal
Boulevard in Beyoğlu, Istanbul, in 1905, having the construction
material brought from France.  It took 4.5 years to complete the
building, which was delivered to Abbas Halim Paşa with 6 floors,
in accordance with the original plan.

In 1940 Hayri İpar, a rich businessman who made his money in the
sugar trade, bought the 'Mısır Apartmanı' and İpar added two more
floors.  The building was restored in 2000-2005 and strengthened
against earthquakes.


                       Sami Günzberg

In the past, Atatürk's Jewish dentist Sami Günzberg had his dental
office in the 'Mısır Apartmanı' and the poet Mithat Cemal lived
there, as well.  It is said that upon the order of the founder of Israel,
David Ben Gurion, the first chief of MOSSAD, Reuven Shiloah,
signed for the establishment of MOSSAD in his third floor flat in
the 'Mısır Apartmanı' in 1947. 


                           The birthplace of MOSSAD