Turkey was the second Muslim country to recognize Israel. And, unlike Egypt and Jordan, it did so back in 1949 (one year after Iran) and recognized Israel normally as opposed to signing a peace treaty after years of wars and in order to regain land and pacify a border.

Thus Israel has always valued Turkey’s relationship. Turkey is a founding member of NATO, a regional power and a possible EU member in the future. The two nations have growing trade relations (at over $3 billion in 2008), an agreement in the 1990s allows Israeli jets to train in Turkish skies, the Turkish military buys supplies from Israeli firms, and in 2007 7% of the Israeli public were tourists in Turkey.

Turkey’s relations serves to legitimize Israel’s presence in the Middle East. And so important is Turkey to Israel that the powerful pro-Israel lobby works to lobby on behalf of Turkey when requested. For instance, when the U.S. Congress was considering at resolution to label the deaths of Ottoman Armenians a “genocide” to the great protest of the Turkish government, it was in part Israel’s effective lobby that killed the bill.

But in recent months relations have been strained. Turkey’s President Erdogan strongly criticized Israel’s massacre of Palestinians in Gaza - over 900 civilians killed over 400 of them children - and decried that nations that behave like Israel will be removed from the world. The Israeli government, keen to avoid a confrontation with a critically ally; tends to ignore just comments as nothing more than emotional rhetoric. This public criticism is matched by Turkish contact with Hamas, though not financial support.

Turkey’s president clashed with Israel’s President Shimon Peres in a Davos World Economic Forum debate on the Middle East. The former eventually walked off the stage, and the two later exchanged calls reflecting that will words got heated both nations remain allies.

But that alliance will be tested more and more in the years to come. Turkey is now more pro-Palestinian than every Arab government - no exaggeration. Arab leaders were either quietly supportive or complacent toward Israel’s attack on the Palestinians in Gaza. Turkey is a democracy and reflections popular opinion, which is staunchly pro-Palestinian. If Israel fails to make peace with the Palestinians, it is hard to see Turkey maintaining relations with Israel.

Turkey just canceled a trip to Israel after Israeli officials refused to accommodate Turkey’s foreign minister. The minister intended to first travel to Gaza and meet with Hamas representatives, and then go into Israel via the blockaded Stripe. But Israel refused such a procedure on official policy that Israeli leaders will not met with any officials whom meet with Hamas prior to (as in a day or two beforehand) lest the government be seen as bestowing legitimacy on Hamas. Israel refuses to negotiate with Hamas until the Islamist party accept past PLO agreements that recognize Israel’s “right” to exist. If Israel were to accept the ministry right after he met with Hamas it would appear as if Israel accepts the legitimacy of Hamas as a party to the table, so to speak, and is indirectly communicating with it through the words that the ministry would no doubt convey on behalf Hamas. Israel wants no part of that and wants Hamas continually marginalized until certain demands are met.

Thus the trip is off. None too bad. It would have been an awkward one for both sides. Turkey has better things to do than meet with a fascist Israeli government that wants no peace, but only more war.