International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, 10 Jun 2010

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates told reporters in London on Wednesday that the refusal of the European Union to allow Turkey to become a member has resulted in Ankara turning eastward to Iran and the Islamic world, alienating it both from the West and from its regional ally Israel.

"The deterioration in the relationship between Turkey and Israel over the past year or so is a matter of concern," Gates said. "The two had a pretty constructive relationship and one that contributed to stability in the region, and I hope that, over time, that kind of constructive relationship can be reestablished."

That might not be so easy, as a poll published Thursday by the Israeli newspaper Yisrael Hayom shows that 78% of Israelis now view Turkey as an enemy country. The same poll showed that 91% of Israelis favor stopping future aid flotillas headed for the Gaza Strip, despite the fallout from last week’s Turkish-sponsored convoy.

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