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On 3 September 2011, Turkey announced that warships would be sent to escort future civilian ships heading to Gaza.<ref>{{cite news|title=‘Israel’s bullying in eastern Med is over’|author=Serkan Demirtaş| url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=8216israel8217s-bullying-in-eastern-med-is-over8217-2011-09-02 |newspaper=] Daily News|date=2 September 2011|accessdate=3 September 2011}}</ref> On 3 September 2011, Turkey announced that warships would be sent to escort future civilian ships heading to Gaza.<ref>{{cite news|title=‘Israel’s bullying in eastern Med is over’|author=Serkan Demirtaş| url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=8216israel8217s-bullying-in-eastern-med-is-over8217-2011-09-02 |newspaper=] Daily News|date=2 September 2011|accessdate=3 September 2011}}</ref>

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==See also== ==See also==

Revision as of 13:04, 4 September 2011

Bilateral relations
Israel-Turkey relations
Map indicating locations of Israel and Turkey

Israel
Turkey

Israel–Turkey relations were formalized in March 1949 when Turkey became the first Muslim majority country (before Iran in 1950) to recognize the State of Israel.

Since then, Israel has been a major supplier of arms to Turkey. Military, strategic, and diplomatic cooperation between Turkey and Israel were accorded high priority by the governments of both countries, which share concerns with respect to the regional instabilities in the Middle East. Ties have been strained since the 2008-2009 Israel-Gaza Conflict and the Gaza flotilla raid during which nine Turkish citizens were killed.

Strategic cooperation

Turkey-Israel naval collaboration, 2009: Capt. John Moore, USN, Turkish Rear Adm. Ismail Taylan, Israeli Rear Adm. Rom Rutberg

Despite cool relations since the accession of the Justice and Development Party in Turkey, the Israeli Foreign Ministry characterized its relations with Turkey as "perfect" in the beginning of 2006. After Khaled Mashal paid an official visit to Turkey, Turkish-Israeli relations entered a "cooling down" process. Some have suggested that this was only a public relations stunt to show the Islamic world that Turkey was on their side because Turkey had been silent in major issues important to Arabs and the Islamic community like the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the Lebanon crisis.

Talks regarding the sale of Israeli Ofeq satellites and Arrow missile air-defence systems to Turkey have taken place, pending United States approval. The systems would be a generational leap for the Turkish military and intelligence capabilities. Israeli defence companies have been responsible for modernizing the F-4 Phantom fleet of the Turkish air force. Their agreements include cooperation in the "domains of air, sea, land, intelligence; and the manufacturing of aircraft, armaments and missiles," and "prepares the way for mutual military visits, training and exercises, dispatch of observers to oversee military exercises, staff exchanges and military know-how."

Shortly after the 1999 Izmit earthquake, Israel carried out a large scale operation to assist in search and rescue efforts and has set up makeshift hospitals. The Israeli team included hundreds of personnel from the IDF SAR team, paramedics, surgeons and administrative personnel. The team was one of the largest international teams to assist in the catastrophe which took over 17,000 lives, and remained active for weeks.

Diplomatic relations

Israel has maintained two diplomatic missions in Turkey: Its embassy is located in the capital city of Ankara, and its Consulate General is located in Turkey's biggest city, Istanbul. The Israeli ambassador to Turkey is Pinhas Avivi, and the Israeli consul-general is Mordechai Amihai. These missions are responsible for Israeli consular affairs for the Marmara, Aegean, Eastern Thrace and western part of the Black Sea regions of Turkey.

On a three-day visit to Ankara in November 2007, Israeli President Shimon Peres met with Turkish President Abdullah Gül, and addressed the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, the first time an Israeli President has addressed a Muslim majority country's parliament. Peres and Gul differed on what action was to be taken regarding Iran's nuclear program, Peres publicly saying that he didn't believe energy-rich Iran was interested in nuclear power. Gul said that he would work to free the abducted Israeli soldiers Gilad Shalit, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev.

On September 2, 2011, Turkey downgraded diplomatic ties with Israel and suspended military co-operation between the countries as the UN released its report into Israel's deadly raid of a Gaza-bound ship. Ahmet Davutoglu, the Turkish foreign minister, announced the measures on Friday, hours before Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, formally received the report, details of which were leaked to the media. A statement from the Israeli prime minister's office said, "Israel hopes to find a way to overcome the dispute and will continue to work towards this goal". Turkey is demanding an Israeli apology and compensation over the 31 May 2010 incident aboard the Mavi Marmara in which eight Turkish nationals and an American man of Turkish descent died when the vessel was stormed by Israeli commandos. The Israeli government has refused several times to make such a gesture.

Economic relations

On 1 January 2000, Israel and Turkey signed a free-trade agreement called the Turkish-Israeli Free Trade Agreement, making Turkey the first Muslim majority country to sign such as an agreement with Israel.

Israel exports an annual $1.5 billion in goods and services to Turkey, and imports $1.8 billion. The two countries signed a multi-billion dollar project to build a series of pipelines from Turkey to Israel to supply gas, oil and other essentials to Israel.

Military collaboration

Annual U.S.-Turkish-Israeli training exercise, 2009
  • Modernization of Turkey's F-4 Phantoms and F-5 aircraft at a cost of $900 million.
  • Upgrading 170 of Turkey's M60A1 tanks for $500 million.
  • Popeye-I and Popeye-II missiles.
  • Popeye-II surface-to-air missiles for $150 million.
  • Arrow anti-ballistic-missiles. (Agreed in principle by Israel. Approval of the United States is awaited.)
  • The agreement provides exchange of pilots eight times a year; allows Israeli pilots to practice "long range flying over mountainous land" in Turkey's Konya firing range; and permits Turkish pilots to train at Israel's computerized firing range at the Nevatim airfield.(Nechmani, 1998: 24; Pipes, 1997 34)
  • The two navies conducted maneuvers during Operation Reliant Mermaid (the U.S. also participated) in January 1998.

As of 2 September 2011, all military agreements between Turkey and Israel have been suspended.

Cultural ties

Arkadas Association in Israel

In 2003, the Arkadas Association was established in Israel. The Arkadas Association is a Turkish-Jewish cultural center in Yehud, aiming to preserve the Turkish-Jewish heritage and promote friendship (Arkadaş being the Turkish word for Friend) between the Israeli and Turkish people.

Arab–Israeli conflict

Turkey as a peace mediator

A joint Israeli-Palestinian industrial park is being developed under Turkish aegis. Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the Grand National Assembly of Turkey a day apart to discuss resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and greater Arab-Israeli conflict weeks before the 2007 Mideast peace conference at Annapolis, Maryland. Peres said that "Turkey is an important player in the Middle East in relation to the United States,Syria and the Palestinians, as well as us." According to the Jerusalem Post, a spokeswoman for the Syrian Foreign Ministry indicated to a Kuwaiti newspaper that "Turkey is used as a channel of communication" between Syria and Israel.

In October 2009, following Turkey's banning Israel's participation in the Anatolian Eagle military exercise, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu objected to Turkey as a mediator, stating "Turkey can't be honest broker", between Syria and Israel.

Criticism of Israeli policy

In December 1987, Turkey denounced "Israeli oppression", and supported the Palestinians’ right to self-determination. In 2004, Turkey denounced Israeli assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, as a "terrorist act". It described the Israeli policy in the Gaza Strip as "state-sponsored terrorism". The Turkish government's condemnation of Israel's military campaign in Gaza in 2009 strained relations between the two countries. There were demonstrations across Turkey against Israeli actions in Gaza.

Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan harshly criticized Israel's conduct in Gaza at the World Economic Forum conference in Davos, Switzerland in early 2009. After the assembled audience applauded Peres, Erdogan said: "I find it very sad that people applaud what you said. You killed people. And I think that it is very wrong." The moderator, Washington Post columnist David Ignatius asked Erdogan to finish, saying that people needed to go to dinner. Major-General Avi Mizrahi advised the Turkish Prime Minister to "look in the mirror". He stated that as Turkey still occupied the northern third of Cyprus, it had no right to criticize Israel.Erdogan then stormed off the stage.

On 11 October 2009, a military aerial exercise was to consist of Turkey, Israel, the United States, and Italy. However, Turkey barred Israel from the Anatolian Eagle military exercise.

In October 2009, Ayrılık (Farewell), a prime-time serial on Turkish state television channel TRT 1 featured fictionalized scenes of Israeli soldiers shooting Palestinian children and mistreating elderly Arabs. Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman criticized the program, and rebuked the Turkish Ambassador in front of assembled media. Lieberman subsequently apologized in the face of a Turkish threat to withdraw its ambassador.

In January 2010 Israel condemned an episode ("Ambush") of the Turkish soap opera Valley of the Wolves, which depicted the Israeli intelligence service Mossad spying inside Turkey and kidnapping Turkish babies. The program depicted a fictional Mossad attack on the Turkish embassy in Tel Aviv, taking the ambassador and his family hostage. On 11 January 2010 Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon summoned Turkish ambassador Ahmet Oğuz Çelikkol to a meeting, At the session, Çelikkol was seated below Ayalon. With cameras rolling, Ayalon turned to his aide and said, "The main thing is that you see that he is seated low and that we are high ... that there is one flag on the table (the Israeli flag) and that we are not smiling."

After Gaza flotilla raid

Main article: Gaza flotilla raid
Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan criticizes Israel harshly and leaves the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland

On 31 May 2010, nine activists (eight Turkish citizens and one Turkish-American with dual citizenship) were killed by Israeli troops after seven Israeli soldiers were injured on the Mavi Marmara, part of the "Gaza Freedom Flotilla", a convoy of six ships carrying 663 people from 37 nations, including pro-Palestinian activists, journalists, and humanitarians. After the raid, which took place in the Mediterranean Sea in international waters, the tension between the two countries mounted. One of the ships taking part was flying a Turkish flag. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the raid as "state terrorism". Turkey recalled its ambassador from Israel, and summoned the Israeli ambassador to demand an explanation. The Turkish Foreign Ministry stated that the incident could lead to irreparable consequences in bilateral relations.

Israeli's Tourism Minister encouraged Israelis to boycott Turkey, and select other destinations such as Cyprus, Romania or Bulgaria for holidays.

Cyprus and Israel signed an accord demarcating their maritime borders to facilitate offshore gas exploration. Agreement provides Israel with exclusive economic, research rights and sovereignty over artificial facilities built within maritime area. Cypriot Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou and Israel's Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau signed the deal in Nicosia. The intent is to facilitate a search for mineral deposits in the east Mediterranean where huge natural gas reserves have been discovered. Turkish sources said that Foreign Ministry officials had summoned Israel's Ambassador to Turkey, Gabby Levy, and expressed discontent over an agreement signed between Israel and Cyprus.

Diplomatic conflict

In September 2011, Turkey expelled Israel's ambassador after Israel refused to apologize for the killing of nine Turkish activists in the Gaza flotilla raid following UN report that found that blockade of Gaza and boarding was legal according to international law though excessive force was used. Israeli officials said they hoped to restore ties but reiterated that they would not apologize. Hamas praised Turkey's decision.

On 3 September 2011, Turkey announced that warships would be sent to escort future civilian ships heading to Gaza.

See also

Bibliography

References

  1. Abadi, pg. 6
  2. Abadi, pg. 37
  3. ^ http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/documents/44edf1a5d337f.pdf
  4. ^ "Turkey and Israel". Smi.uib.no. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  5. "Middle East | Analysis: Middle East's 'phantom alliance'". BBC News. 1999-02-18. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  6. http://ankara.mfa.gov.il/mfm/web/main/document.asp?subjectid=18367&missionid=65&languageid=0&statusi
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  15. Yaakov Katz (13 November 2007). "Peres, Gul at odds over Iran nuke threat". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2007-11-12.
  16. , "Turkey downgrades ties with Israel"
  17. http://www.israeltrade.org.tr/content/view/354/1/
  18. "Why Israel Needs Turkey", Haaretz
  19. http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1145961328841&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull
  20. , "Turkey suspends all military agreements with Israel".
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  22. "Netanyahu: Turkey can't be 'honest broker' in Syria talks". Haaretz. 18 October 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
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  24. "Turkey's drift away from the West". Jerusalem Post (14 January 2009). Retrieved on 2009-02-04
  25. "Hundreds of thousands protest in Turkey against Israeli offensive" Hurriyet News
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  29. Al Jazeera English: "Inside Story - Gaza sours Israel-Turkey relations"
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  40. Black, Ian; Haroon Siddique (31 May 2010). "Q&A: The Gaza Freedom flotilla". The Guardian. London: Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
  41. Tia Goldenberg (31 May 2010). "Pro-Palestinian aid flotilla sets sail for Gaza". San Diego Union-Tribune. Associated Press. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  42. Noah Kosharek (2 June 2010). "Israel transfers hundreds of Gaza flotilla activists to airport for deportation". Haaretz. Retrieved 2 June 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  43. "Turkey condemns Israel over deadly attack on Gaza aid flotilla". London: Telegraph. 2010-05-31. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  44. Amy Teibel, Boston Globe, 31 October 2010, "Tourism minister urges Israelis to boycott Turkey", 10 April 2011
  45. Alarab Online, 20 December 2010, "Turkey unhappy with Israel-Cyprus deal", 10 April 2011
  46. "Turkey Expels Israeli Envoy in Dispute Over Raid". Retrieved September 04, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  47. Israel refuses to apologize or pay compensation regarding the 2009 Gaza flotilla raid
  48. Maayan Lubell (2 September 2011). "Israel hopes to mend ties with Turkey-govt official". Reuters. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  49. Darren Mara; Chuck Penfold (3 September 2011). "UN chief tells Turkey, Israel to improve ties for sake of Middle East". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  50. "Hamas welcomes Turkey move to expel Israeli envoy". The Egyptian Gazette. 2 September 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  51. Serkan Demirtaş (2 September 2011). "'Israel's bullying in eastern Med is over'". Hürriyet Daily News. Retrieved 3 September 2011.

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