Familiar grows into unfamiliar for Israelis

This was the picture that emerged in random conversations with opinion leaders and ordinary people on the street throughout the Israeli capital.

"I have been going to Turkey for five years," said Amir, a taxi driver who declined to share his last name. "I have almost become an Antalya native. But I take the actions of your prime minister to heart. He called us child killers. Did I commit murder? This year, I won't be going to Turkey," he said. Amit also asked: "Do you know the feeling of loneliness coupled with fear in this geography?"

Fear over losing the only safe getaway in the region and ties to friendly people also pervades young Israelis. Last year, 600,000 Israeli citizens visited Turkey as tourists, according to figures, finding a welcoming atmosphere.

Two teenagers, Gilad and Eran, said they saw Turks as the people closest to them but had decided to cancel their scheduled trip to Antalya on the Mediterranean coast last weekend because the anti-Israeli protests in Turkey had made them ask if the ties between the two countries had broken down.

Two university students, Yael and Olga, said they went to Antalya every year, but called on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to assure them that there would be no animosity toward Israelis.
Beti Allovi, a former member of the Jewish community in Istanbul, noted that he, together with an Israeli therapist, visited Anatolian towns every year to treat autistic children. "A few weeks ago, I received a message saying I shouldn’t come because it was too dangerous," he said.

He said Israelis had no problems with the Turkish nation. "Turks might be the most loved people but radicals exploiting anti-Semitism need to be tackled. It is easy to say, ’It was the work of a few fanatics,’ [if something happens] in the future. But how will they fix it in their conscience," Allovi said.

There are also those who are worried about the Jewish community in Istanbul. One taxi driver, Eli Avi, said he had relatives in Turkey. "I am worried about what is going to happen. We always say those in Turkey are in the care of the Ottomans. It is now the debt of great Turkey and the prime minister to protect our people there."

Commentators are mainly upset about losing a neutral intermediary trusted by all sides. "I respect Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan but he should be more neutral," said Oded Granot, a Channel 1 commentator. He said Israelis were very upset about what happened in Davos. "Friends can definitely criticize each other but not destructively. Everyone in Israel is waiting for your prime minister to make clear through the media that he has nothing against them."

Channel 2’s respected commentator Arad Nir said he was not upset about Erdoğan’s criticism; "However, it is important to make it absolutely clear that this criticism has nothing to do with the Jews in Turkey and the Israeli people," he said, adding that if not, anti-Semitic sentiments could spread in Turkey. "We got used to being greeted with ’Shalom ahi’ (Hello brother) by shopkeepers and people. That should not be allowed to disappear." The sudden change in official attitude and overwhelming public support for Erdoğan’s criticism have forced many in Israel to try to understand what was the cause.

Jerusalem Post commentator Haviv Retig said: "I don’t know if it was a political ploy mainly aimed at domestic audience. However, one thing I know is that if the root causes of such criticism are not explained, it may get out of hand. Turkey is Israel’s strategic partner and both countries need each other."

The head of the Turkish Association in Israel, Momo Uzsinay asked what Israelis had done to deserve such vocal and hateful criticism. He said things would return to normal after a while but noted his concern over the perception in Israel that Turks were becoming more hateful.

"Police officers guarding a synagogue in Istanbul refused to eat the meal offered to them because it was Jewish. In Antalya, they spit as we pass," Uzsinay said.

Uzsinay's deputy Nesim Güveniş said he worried about Turkey’s Jewish community being forced to leave because of animosity. "I can openly say that people are scared," he said. He also noted that Erdoğan’s harshest statements toward Israel were made in a language easily understood by ordinary people, while the language used for statements asking for the reaction not to be directed at Turkey’s citizens of Jewish origin or Israeli citizens were very diplomatic. "In order to prevent reaction, he should use plain language understood by all while calling for reactions not to be directed at Israeli citizens or Turkish Jews. Turkish Jews are his citizens and are eagerly anticipating every word he says," Güveniş said.

The reactions from ordinary people in Israel show a public relations initiative is needed both in Israel and in Turkey. Turkish diplomats are trying to bring forward the postponed presidential visit to Israel. President Abdullah Gül was scheduled to visit Israel early last month but the visit was postponed due to medical reasons. A visit by Gül may thaw the diplomatic coolness and most importantly show the Israeli public the change in their perception of Turkey is not warranted.