It seems Israel just can't get past the "you're so important to us, please like us" mind-set. It's always, it seems, Israeli officials heading off to Turkey stroking their ego reminding them how vital Israel's ties to Turkey are. Where are the gestures in the other direction? When was the last time Turkey's leaders flew into Israel to make clear how important their ties to Israel are? When was the last time an Israel festival of any kind was held in Turkey?

A few Turkish-born Israelis cannot possibly speak for Turkey. They are Israelis much more than they are Turks, and this initiative is more like their wishful thinking. I would be much more convinced if non-Jewish Turks from Turkey would come up with such initiative, and attempt to get closer to Israel, rather than the other way around as we see here. After all, it's Turkey that started these tensions, so it's Turkey who should make the effort to relieve them. But in this way we look ridiculous!

In the beginning he was very good with Israel. He visited Israel twice. Even Peres praised Erdogan for his cooperation. Then he suddenly changed. He has some plans in his mind but we can't understand it. Probably a gas deal with Iran or something. I'm not very concerned because relations are very strong between Israel and Turkey. Erdogan can't break it by himself. But seriously, what is his aim? I don't know.

1. Please do not say "Turkish Shawarma". In Turkish it is "Döner". Shawarma also derives from Turkish "cevrimek", which means to turn around. Forget the Shawarma they sell in Israel. The Turkish one is the best. :) 2. These people from the Association have the right to talk for Turkey. They are as Turkish as I am and as someone who lives in Istanbul or Ankara. For me they are Turkish. Does not matter where they live. 3. But the day they have chosen to party (24th of April) was the wrong time. All of Turkey is discussing the mass-murder of Armenians (some deny it !) during WW I. So no wonder why this "festival" got less attention in the Turkish media.

he will sell his mother.

gefilte fish there.

Very funny! Doner kebab is very popular in Australia too!

The bond is too thick to break. By analogy, the bond between Egypt and Israel is through the two respective governments. With Turkey and Israel the bond is at all levels viz, people to people.

Let me explain: Remember when Erdogan said that democracy is not their objective it is a bus. When they reach their destination they will get off that bus? This describes Erdogan very clearly. He will do anything to get what he wants. Like in the Fleetwood mac song he will beg steal or borrow or in more common description he will do Takkiye until he brings in Sheria to Turkey, Hel will change the constitution to make him the absolute ruler president. There is nothing secret about him. Now what I don't understand is what will the Turkish people do about it?

Do not offer gefilte fish to anyone. Even I would not eat it. Do you want to make more enemies? :-)

Erdogan's party doesn't have the majority to change the constitution by themselves. They need the support of opposition parties which of course won't help Erdogan to become the single ruler. Some amendments were rejected by the parliament last week. Sharia law is also impossible in Turkey. Although there's paranoia of it in secular Turks. If you look at countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, they are command economies. Rulers need to own all the economic power to implement sharia. Turkey is a market economy. State relies on taxes of citizens, not oil money. Pakistani people are much more conservative than Iran but Pakistani state doesn't have the economic power to implement sharia. There's also the problem of ultra-nationalism in Turkey. Armenians and Kurds were the biggest victim of it. Erdogan changed old nationalist policies. He really introduced democratic reforms for minorties. But his conservative lifestyle (his wife and daughter are wearing veil), his friendship with Ahmadinejad, his old Islamist speeches also worry me. But nationalists also worry me. I think Erdogan is better for Turkey now. I hope he'll change his attitude to Israel.

Erdogan introduces what you called reforms which he called "opening" or ACILIM in Turkish but none of them were successful. Nothing changed with Kurds nothing changed with Armenia. Weather Sheria is possible or impossibe in Turkey is a matter of wait and see. When the military was strong I would say it was impossible but now things have changed. When I was young someone told Adnan Menderes that if he wanted hew could bring in Khalifat but the military prevented it on May 27, 1960 (I remember that day vividly, I was 10 year old). Today Erdogan might be able to do what Menderes could not do in 1960. The only power to prevent it is the people power (MILLI IRADE) so be careful for what you will be voting next time. Turkey is a market economy that somehow relies on taxes from its citizens (If they pay - you know what I mean) but the AKP relies on other income which is known as green capital which pays for the care packages of beans and coal before elections. And their spiritual leader is supporting them from his ranch here in the USA at the beautiful Pocono mountains in Pennsylvania. (Why do you think YouTube is banned in Turkey? There are many videos of Erdogan with that famous person - you know who he is) If this constitution gores to a referendum I am afraid it will pass making Erdogan the next president with unprecedented power. Ultra nationalism and ultra religionist are both bad for Turkey. But the main issue is that the majority of Turkish people are not ready for a real pluralistic democracy that requires to protect the rights of those opposing to the majority as well. Iyi geceler Metin.