ISTANBUL (EJP)---While Jerusalem and Ankara battle over political principles, the Jewish community in Turkey is in the midst of it.  

On the one hand, the Jews in Turkey had understood the danger of populating anti-Israeli feelings raised by the anti-Israeli TV series, yet on the other hand, they also encouraged a diplomatic ceasefire between Deputy Foreign minister Danny Ayalon and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Turkish Jewry, one of the oldest communities in the Middle East, immigrated in the aftermath of the 1492's expulsion from Spain. The Sultan, then Bayezid the 2^nd, had welcomed them stating that “their [the spanish] lose is our gain [the Jews]”.  

During the Ottoman Empire times, the Jews had enjoyed a relatively-quiet time and had flourished on all aspects.

In WWI, a large number of the community joined the Ottoman army and among them was David Ben-Gurion who at the time fought as a young officer in the Ottoman army.

When the State of Israel was established, the majority of Jews immigrated to Israel and western Europe. As of today, there are some 20,000 Jews who live mainly in Istanbul and Ankara.

Tensions between Israel and the Arab world, gave its signs over the Turkish Jewry as well. In  1986, a group of terrorists attacked the main synagogue in Istanbul, “Neve Shalom”, leaving behind 23 dead members of the community  

In November 2003, another attack on the same synagogue was launched, leaving behind a trail of 22 casualties.

It is natural then, that the Jewish community seeks stability – if not prosperity – in its relations between Turkey and Israel.

The fear from the outcomes of deterioration of the relations between the two states, had echoed in the past, and may do the same in the future.