In June 2006, the Turkish media reported on two recent surveys, by Pew and by Princeton Survey Research Associates. The Pew study, which was conducted in 15 countries between March 31 and May 14, 2006, found significant erosion of positive feelings towards the U.S. among the Turkish people. The Princeton study showed that most Turks have negative feelings towards Jews and Christians – more than in other Muslim countries and Arab countries – and that most do not believe in democracy, despite the common belief that Turkey is the most democratic country in the Muslim world.

The secular mainstream daily Hurriyet reported that the survey results showed anti-Americanism on the rise among Turks. While Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was chosen by 25% of respondents as the most trusted leader, President George W. Bush came last, with only 3%.(1)

Hurriyet's Ertugrul Ozkok warned in his column that Turkey was becoming the most fanatical and hostile country towards Christians in the Islamic world, pointed out that this anti-Western trend was evident among secular ultra-nationalists as much as among Islamists, and opined that Turkey was headed towards catastrophe.(2)

The centrist, secular daily Sabah reported that there was widespread disbelief in Turkey that Arab terror groups were behind the 9/11 attacks.(3)

Since the outbreak of fighting, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's has repeatedly blamed Israel.(4)

Turkey's Islamist media voices the jihadi views of Iran, Syria, Hamas, and Hizbullah in headlines, accuses Israel of using chemical weapons, and calls on the Turkish people to attend mass rallies against Jews, the U.S., and the U.N. The secular media – with the exception of a few columnists – has expressed similarly hostile views.

Some of the Turkish media likens Israel to Hitler and the Nazis, denies or justifies the Holocaust, and blames the Jews for everything wrong in the world. The U.S. is often portrayed as the "Great Satan" and as a bloodthirsty vampire that plans to occupy and divide Turkey, while Hizbullah and Hamas are described as legal organizations fighting to defend their homelands...