Such slogans have sometimes gone beyond criticizing Israel for the killing of civilians, instead highlighting the anti-Semitic and anti-Armenian stance of many Turks.
Such anti-Semitic slogans prompted Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to say during a speech in Parliament on Jan. 13 that he has never supported anti-Semitism. "I am a leader who has said that anti-Semitism is a crime against humanity," he stressed. Erdoğan earlier described Israel's Gaza offensive as a crime against humanity, too.
"But I should say that my criticism is not as strong as the effects of white phosphorus bombs," he had added. Israel has been accused of using controversial white phosphorus shells during its ongoing Gaza assault.
Despite his outspoken criticism of Israel, however, Erdoğan has so far been cautious about taking any retaliatory measures, such as suspension of military and arms procurement relations.
Under a military cooperation deal signed in 1996, Israel has been benefiting from the use of Turkish airspace for training while participating in the Anatolian Eagle exercises staged once or twice a year in the military's Konya training center, some 250 kilometers from Ankara.
The center was opened in 2001, when Turkish, American and Israeli fighter jets staged computerized air-to-air and air-to-ground exercises. The software of the Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation (ACMI) systems used during these exercises is being developed by the Israel-based firm MLM.
The defense agreement signed in 2006 allowed Turkey to acquire high-technology military equipment from Israel in some areas where its inventory is lacking. Defense trade between Turkey and Israel amounted to around $2 billion in 2007.
Intelligence cooperation between the two nations is also believed to be intense.
In addition, trade between Israel and Turkey has increased under the Erdoğan government.
The Turkish government has so far refrained from any measures that will affect military and defense industry ties between the two countries, despite heightened public pressure.
In response to demands from opposition parties last week that the government cut its ties with Israel, Erdoğan said: "We are not running a grocery store here; we are running the Turkish Republic."
One may argue that this was a sign of pragmatism on the government's side. But, at the same time, the politically powerful Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) are also behind the strong military and arms procurement cooperation between the two countries.
While Prime Minister Erdoğan refused to meet or talk with top Israeli politicians until Tel Aviv agrees to a cease-fire, the Turkish General Staff accepted a briefing on the Israeli version of the Gaza offensive given by Israeli military officials last week.
The Israelis firmly believe that the Turkish military is a solid anchor for them. This might explain why the government has so far refused to cut off relations with Israel despite its harsh criticisms of Israel's assault on Gaza.
Similarly, the Turkish Foreign Ministry is said to have been behind Parliament's decision not to release a statement condemning Israel over its Gaza offensive.
However, I am of the belief that the TSK or the Foreign Ministry alone could not have prevented the government from implementing military sanctions against Israel.
Behind the government's reluctance to go ahead with a sanction policy may be its concern that such a move would strip it of its role as a credible broker in the negotiations currently under way with Hamas via Egypt. If Tel Aviv refuses Turkey's role in seeking a truce between Hamas and Israel, Turkey may vanish from the picture.
The second important factor that has so far prevented the government from turning against Israel entirely is the pending Armenian genocide bill that may come before US President-elect Barack Obama, who will take office next week.
Turkey will need the Israeli lobby for dealing with the administration and the Congress if it wants to prevent Obama from recognizing Armenian claims that the World War I-era killings of Anatolian Armenians at the hands of the late Ottoman Empire constituted genocide.
Back in 2005 Prime Minister Erdoğan appeased Tel Aviv by contracting with Israel for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in response to support from the Israeli lobby in the US. Both Israel and the Israeli lobby in the US suspended their support for Turkey when Erdoğan harshly criticized Israel's offensive against the Palestinians in 2006.
In addition, Turkish-Israeli trade relations have grown significantly in recent years, making the two nations dependent on each other economically.
But despite the benefits that Turkey has been reaping from its military, trade and political ties with Israel, there have been some signs coming from the government indicating that if the Israeli offensive continues Ankara is prepared to announce measures that may affect both military and trade ties.
Top Turkish procurement officials have recently informed the Israeli side that if the offensive continues Ankara may suspend some military procurement projects, including a $165 million deal struck with Israel in late December just two days before Israel began its air strikes against the Gaza Strip.
Erdoğan also hinted in his televised speech in Parliament on Jan. 13 that his government may announce measures against Israel if the offensive continues.
"From now on we may take different steps against Israel," he said.
If the Gaza offensive continues, the TSK will no longer be a solid anchor for Israel.
