Recent months have not seen the best of relations between Turkey and Israel.

Turkey was the second Muslim nation to recognize Israel in 1948 (after Iran), and since then both nations have been allies. In 2008, bi-lateral trade topped $3 billion. An agreement in the 1990s allows Israeli fighter jets to train in Turkish skies, and Israeli contractors are licensed by the Turkish military. And tourism is, on the Israeli side, a strong factor in the relationship as 7% of the Israeli public visited Turkey last year.

But Israel’s continuing occupation of Palestine and its most recent massacre of Palestinians in Gaza - over 900 civilians of whom over 400 were children - was greatly strained relations and puts into doubt whether both nations will even have diplomatic relations in a few years if a Palestinian state is not established by then.

Turkey’s prime minister strongly criticized the Gaza attack, and then engaged in a heated debate with the Israeli president at the Davos World Economic Forum. Turkey recently a NATO military exercise, which Israel was supposed to take part in, most likely due to opposition of Israeli participation (Israel isn’t even a NATO member). And since the Gaza massacre, trade between nations have fallen 40% in just nine months.

Israel has been panicking about its souring relations with Turkey. The loss of Turkey would further alienate the Jewish state in the international arena and undermine its legitimacy. It would also put more pressure on Egypt and Jordan to end their own relations with Israel.

And Turkey recently dis-invited Israel from a NATO training exercise (Israel is not a NATO member). The exercise was eventually canceled all together as the United States predictably and uncritically took Israel’s side.

But are things beginning to change?:

Israel, Jordan, and Turkey conducted a joint search and rescue military drill two weeks ago, the Turkish daily Zaman reported on Monday, pointing to an apparent ease in recent tensions between Jerusalem and Ankara. The exercise reportedly took place in the Turkish army’s special forces training ground, in the vicinity of the Turkish capital.

But one should not read too much into the event. First, Turkey canceled a major event while this is just a minor exercise. Second, Turkey has stated that it is conditioning relations on peace with the Palestinians and the Turkish government and people are resolutely pro-Palestinian.

So no worries here for the Palestinians. Relations are still frigid and will remain until some degree of justice is accorded Palestinians. Turkey is still on their side.