Israel-Turkey Relations Mark 75 Years of Turbulent Diplomatic Rollercoaster
Israel and Turkey have experienced a complex and fluctuating relationship since Israel's founding in 1948. Turkey was the first Muslim-majority country to officially recognize Israel in March 1949 and established diplomatic ties by the end of that year. This historic breakthrough was met with emotional public support from Turkey's Jewish community, marking a significant moment in regional diplomacy.
Despite early cooperation, including military attachés and intelligence sharing, the relationship was often described as ambivalent. Israeli leaders like David Ben-Gurion likened Turkey’s attitude to that of a "concubine" rather than an equal partner, reflecting a dynamic of strategic utility mixed with political distance. The 1950s and 1960s saw shifts due to regional alliances and conflicts, such as Turkey's participation in the Baghdad Pact and reactions to the Suez Crisis, which cooled ties.
The 1990s brought a "golden age" of relations, with full ambassadorial exchanges, free trade agreements, joint military exercises, and booming tourism. However, the rise of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the AKP in 2002 introduced new sensitivities, especially regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Tensions escalated during the 2008-2009 Gaza conflict and culminated in the 2010 Mavi Marmara flotilla incident, which severely damaged diplomatic and security cooperation.
Attempts at reconciliation, including Netanyahu's 2013 apology and a 2016 reconciliation agreement, were undermined by subsequent events such as the 2018 Jerusalem embassy move and clashes at the Temple Mount. In 2022, President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Ankara and meetings with Erdoğan signaled a thaw, with ambassadors returning and relations partially restored.
However, the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, 2023, has plunged relations to their lowest point in decades. Turkey under Erdoğan openly supports Hamas politically and logistically, granting diplomatic passports to its leaders and promoting anti-Israel rhetoric internationally. Despite this, formal diplomatic ties remain intact, and economic trade continues, underscoring the complex interplay of geopolitical interests and ideological divides that have defined Israel-Turkey relations over 75 years.
The relationship remains a pendulum swinging between strategic cooperation and political-ideological conflict, with the future direction uncertain amid ongoing regional tensions.
