Turkey used to be the most popular destination of Israeli tourists. Almost 10,000 Israelis have canceled season-start trips to Bodrum, Turkey, alone. They were prompted by the insulting treatment of their President by the Turkish President in Davos. Turkey’s Minister of Tourism feels that his own President’s outburst boosted Turkey’s popularity among the Arabs (Op. Cit., p.9 from Dagan News Agency, 4/3/09).
The Turkish President did not insult personally his Israeli counterpart. Personally, I consider Pres. Peres a most subversive, anti-Zionist conspirator.
Turkey formerly ruled over the Arabs and repressed them. Somehow, the Arabs don’t blame Turkey for past colonialism