ISRAELIS URGE TURKISH PM TO MAKE STRONGEST CALL TO SOOTHE CONCERNS

Hurriyet
Feb 5 2009
Turkey

TEL AVIV / JERUSALEM – Israeli people are extremely concerned that
Turkey’s harsh reaction to the Gaza operations could turn into a real
threat against Jews and expect Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan to step
in to reduce the tension.

Turkey is among the countries which made harshest criticism against
Israel’s Gaza operations that killed more than 1,300 people and
injured at least 5,000 others.

In the latest incident that raised tensions, Erdogan stormed out of
the Gaza session with Israeli President Shimon Peres in Davos last
week after the moderator did not give him the floor to speak. The
incident is unlikely to have a negative impact on the relations of
the two historic allies, but has created unease among Turkey’s Jewish
community, as well as Israeli nationals.

An Israeli journalist told Hurriyet that Erdogan’s reaction recalled
the criticism of former French President Jacques Chirac’s regarding
the Jenin incidents.

"But what is important here is to give the strongest message to
the Turkish people that this reaction has nothing to do with the
Jewish community in Turkey and the Israeli people. Otherwise similar
approaches, such as like the banner ‘Dogs, Armenians and Jews cannot
enter’ (hung in a protest), will spread throughout Turkey," said Arad
Nir, foreign editor and anchor with Israel’s Channel 2, the country’s
largest private broadcasting station.

Israelis reacted with the cancellation of 60 percent of planned tours
to Turkey’s tourism centers. Around 600,000 Israeli visited Turkey
in 2008.

"I have been going to Turkey for the last five years. But I am thinking
of not going this year. My friends are saying severe harassments
target Jews in Turkey," taxi driver Amir said.

MAJOR CONCERN HOSPITILITY

Mass demonstrations have been held in Turkey to protest Israel’s
Gaza operation.

Although there is no incident of violence against Jews in Turkey,
some banners or slogans chanted in protest have created major concerns
among the Jewish community who warned the Turkish government to act
to prevent anti-Semitic activities. Turkey sees anti-Semitism as a
crime against humanity.

"We, the Israelis, are used to being welcomed in Turkey with ‘Shalom
Ahi’ (Hello, brother). This should not be lost. Our major concern is
the hostility against Israelis in Turkey," Channel 2’s Nir added.

Protecting some 23,000 Jews living in Turkey is "a sacred legacy"
of the Ottoman Empire, said Nesim Guvenis, the vice president of the
Union of Jews from Turkey in Israel.

"My fear is that if hostility emerges and intensifies against those
people (Jews in Turkey), then people will be forced to leave. Frankly,
they are really scared. Mr. Prime Minister Erdogan uses people’s jargon
while he is making his harshest criticism and this sparks hatred. But
later he uses diplomatic jargon while calling for calm. In order to
prevent any reactions he should have used the same jargon with the
people," Guvenis added.

BACK-DOOR DIPLOMACY

The Israeli security forces had kept Turkish diplomats waiting in
Tel Aviv airport for two hours, another sign of the unease among the
people of the Jewish state. Turkish diplomats in Israel have been
working hard to correct the misunderstandings.

Officials from both countries have been pursuing "silent diplomacy"
to ease the tension. One of the important issues on table is President
Abdullah Gul’s visit to Israel.

Gul had postponed his Israel visit alongside with a couple of others
early in January due to an ear complaint that prevented him from
flying. Diplomatic sources say the visit was not cancelled but
postponed.

Both Israeli and Turkish media reported that diplomats have been
holding back door diplomacy since Erdogan’s tantrum in Davos. The
countries see each other as strategic partners and the incidents did
not have any impact on this view, diplomats say.

The Israeli people are trying to understand whether Erdogan’s reaction
is something related to domestic politics or something else, said
Jerusalem Post correspondent Haviv Retig.

"Turkey is the most important strategic partner of Israel. Both
countries need each other. Turkey is the first country that Israel will
knock on the door of at a time of a crisis. We have to overcome this
crisis and look ahead. I think the political and economic cooperation
between the two countries will improve strategically," Retig added.