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.
