The bomb attacks on two synagogues in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, with two dozen killed and more than 300 injured, is disquieting in two regards, even beyond the loss of life.

The first is the question of the impact of the turbulence in the Middle East, notably in Iraq and between the Israelis and Palestinians, on Turkey, a complicated country at best. Second, and even more troubling, is the evidence that the reaction of Arabs, Muslims and others to Israeli actions in the West Bank and Gaza is spilling over into anti-Semitism and violence directed against Jewish populations normally living in peace in countries like Turkey.

The Istanbul attackers have not yet been apprehended, although a group allegedly linked to al-Qaida has claimed to have carried out the bombings. Turkey is a secular state. Its population is 99.5 percent Muslim. It has had for years a close working relationship with Israel, to the degree that organizations supporting Israel in the United States regularly put out good news about Turkey.

Turkey's current government is led by an Islamic party. Religious parties make the Turkish military nervous in general. The army reserves to itself the right to get rid of civilian governments it perceives as not acting consistent with important national principles. Its reaction to the Istanbul bomb attacks is uncertain.

The question of Turkey's support of the U.S. war in Iraq has been a troubling one since before the attack in March. The most recent issue has been the possible dispatch of Turkish troops to join U.S. forces in the occupation. In the end, the Turkish government scrapped the plan because of opposition from Kurds in Iraq and those in the Iraqi Governing Council. Kurds in Turkey fought what was almost a civil war against the Turkish government as recently as the 1990s.

Anti-Semitism is on the rise in some Western European countries, notably France and Germany, whose governments are alarmed and are taking action to deal with the phenomenon.

The bomb attacks in Istanbul need to be seen as potentially in that category as well. The Turks pride themselves on their centuries-old, generally open approach to people of other faiths. But Turkey is also a fairly relaxed society on the security side, not unlike the pre-Sept. 11 United States, and thus vulnerable to small groups that want to blow things up and kill people.

The boat of stability is now rocking in Turkey. The government will have to deal with the problem, but not with so heavy a hand that matters are made worse.

The United States could help by returning to a credible policy of seeking a two-state solution for the Israelis and Palestinians, and by devising a viable international exit route from rule in Iraq. American policy would thus lower -- rather than raise -- the temperature in the region, making life easier for allies such as Turkey and taking away the cards of violent anti-Semites.