The suggested measures, which found their way to the mass media, include a range of items from complete cessation of diplomatic, military and economic relations with Israel to economic sanctions.
While the diplomatic shuttle of the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is much appreciated by the public, the fact that Israel has yet to respond to Turkey's and other countries' calls for an immediate cease-fire and a subsequent final settlement with the Palestinian state induced further calls from the grassroots for further measures against Israel.
Some 19 bar associations asked the government to impose economic sanctions to Israel as a response to its continuing and widening military operation in Gaza. Representing bar associations in Erzincan, Nevşehir, Elazığ, Yozgat, Iğdır, Afyon, Sivas, Erzurum, Aksaray, Kırklareli, Burdur, Tokat, Van, Gümüşhane, Kütahya, Osmaniye, Çankırı and Kırşehir, the head of the Kayseri Bar Association, Ali Aydın, released a statement condemning Israel:
“Mere condemnation messages against Israel are not enough. There should be economic and political sanctions against Israel. Israel's ambassador and all Israeli officials in Turkey should be announced persona non-grata. Our ambassador in Israel should be immediately called back. Palestinian people should be supported financially and emotionally by the state.”
Aydın also indicated that Turkey should use its position at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to draft urgent initiatives regarding the worsening situation in Gaza.
Meanwhile, ruling and opposition party members have had varying ideas on how to approach the issue. Numan Kurtulmuş, the leader of the Felicity Party (SP), told Today's Zaman that there are a number of things Turkey can do to protest Israel's bloody campaign in Gaza.
“First, Turkey should call its ambassador in Israel back. Secondly, Prime Minister Erdoğan should retract from peace talks between Syria and Israel. Third, by using its temporary membership at the UNSC, Turkey should make the international actors take action on the issue,” Kurtulmuş said, adding that Turkey should also take initiatives to have the Israeli civilian and military officials who made the decision to commit “genocide” against the Palestinian people tried at the International War Crimes Tribunal.
Among the other measures Kurtulmuş suggested are the annulment of all military and economic agreements with Israel. He said Turkey should not allow Israeli planes to conduct training exercises in the Turkish province of Konya. He also suggested that an airlift operation could bring wounded Palestinians to Turkey.
On the other hand, Süleyman Gündüz, a former deputy from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and an activist for Palestine, suggested a cautious and balanced approach.
"If Turkey immediately cuts its diplomatic and economic ties with Israel, it might not be an effective step to stop Israel but might help isolate it," he said in an interview with Today's Zaman. He also added that the government seems to be testing the diplomatic front.
"If diplomacy does not work, the government would try stricter options depending on the increasing public pressure," he said, referring to the Israeli attacks, which continue to kill civilians.
Criticizing the opposition, Gündüz said the opposition parties in Parliament could take more radical initiatives than the government.
From the opposition, Republican People's Party (CHP) Deputy Chairman Onur Öymen told Today's Zaman that an economic embargo against Israel can be an option, but only if it could to change Israel's current war policy.
"If economic sanctions do not carry weight to change Israel's policies, then it would be a bullet fired for nothing," Öymen said.
Referring to Erdoğan's mediation efforts, Öymen said a balanced approach is key in diplomacy.
"How can we convince or coerce Israel for a cease-fire? Can Turkey alone do it? What can Turkey do to make the United States be more sensitive in that regard?" he asked. "The countries the prime minister visited so far are not the countries that could have an influence on Israel. But there are international organizations that can be more forceful on Israel. Turkey should have a wide perspective on the issue."
Meanwhile, several online campaigns continue to ask not to use any one of the Israeli products or other products that are allegedly sparing a part of their income to help Israel.
On Sunday, more than 5,000 people held an anti-Israel rally in İstanbul, waving Palestinian flags and burning effigies of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and President George W. Bush. Also in İstanbul, club-wielding police broke up a small demonstration of protesters who hurled eggs at the Israeli consulate.
