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==Armenian Genocide==
==Armenian Genocide==
The Knesset is scheduled to hold a session in June 2010 on the [[Armenian genocide]] of 1915, which is attributed to the Ottoman Turks. The Knesset session was planned by [[Meretz]] chairman Haim Oron in 2009 who said he does not intend to turn the discussion into a "settling of accounts" with Turkey over the flotilla incident, and plans to ensure that other lawmakers conduct themselves in a similar vein. "I think this issue is deeply significant, and that's why I don't want it to turn into a denigration of our ties with Turkey at the hands of those who previously didn't even want to hold this debate." In an address to the Knesset plenum a month ago, Oron denounced Turkey's wartime conduct toward the Armenians.<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/knesset-to-hold-session-on-armenian-genocide-1.296894 Knesset to hold session on Armenian genocide], ''Haaretz'', June 18, 2010</ref>
The Knesset is scheduled to hold a session in June 2010 on the [[Armenian genocide]] of 1915, which is attributed to the Ottoman Turks. The Knesset session was planned by [[Meretz]] chairman Haim Oron in 2009 who said he does not intend to turn the discussion into a "settling of accounts" with Turkey over the flotilla incident, and plans to ensure that other lawmakers conduct themselves in a similar vein. "I think this issue is deeply significant, and that's why I don't want it to turn into a denigration of our ties with Turkey at the hands of those who previously didn't even want to hold this debate." In an address to the Knesset plenum a month ago, Oron denounced Turkey's wartime conduct toward the Armenians.<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/knesset-to-hold-session-on-armenian-genocide-1.296894 Knesset to hold session on Armenian genocide], ''Haaretz'', June 18, 2010</ref>

==October-November 2010==
Israel is written as a "central threat" to Turkey in a policy paper written by Turkey's National Security Council. Meanwhile National Security Council removes countries such as [[Iran]] and [[Syria]] from the list of countries that pose a threat to Turkey. At the same time Israeli Tourism Minister urges Israelis to totally boycott Turkey.




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

Revision as of 16:33, 2 November 2010

Israel-Turkey relations
Map indicating locations of Israel and Turkey

Israel
Turkey

Israel–Turkey relations were formalized in March 1949[1] when Turkey became the first Muslim majority country (before Iran in 1950[2]) to recognize the State of Israel.[3][4] 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.[5][6][7] Ties have become strained since the 2008-2009 Israel-Gaza Conflict and the Gaza flotilla raid during which eight Turkish citizens were killed.[8]

Strategic cooperation

Turkey-Israel naval collaboration, 2009: John Moore of U.S. Navy, Turkish Rear Adm. Ismail Taylan, Israeli Rear Adm. Rom Rutberg

Despite cool relations since the accession of the Justice and Development Party in Turkey,[9] the Israeli Foreign Ministry characterized its relations with Turkey as "perfect" in the beginning of 2006. After Khaled Meshal 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.[10]

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.[11]

Israel has been a major supplier of arms to Turkey, and Israeli firms 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 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 maintains two diplomatic missions in Turkey: Its embassy is located in the Turkish capital, Ankara, and its Consulate General is located in Turkey's biggest city, Istanbul.[12] The Israeli ambassador to Turkey is Pinhas Avivi,[13] and the Israeli consul-general is Mordechai Amihai.[14] These missions are responsible for Israeli consular affairs for the Marmara, Aegean, Eastern Thrace and western part of the Black Sea regions of Turkey.[15]

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.[11][16]

Economic relations

On January 1, 2000, Israel and Turkey signed a free-trade agreement.[17] named the "Turkish Israeli free trade agreement" making it the first Muslim majority country to sign such as an agreement with the Jewish state.[18] Israel exports an annual $1.5 billion in goods and services to Turkey, and imports more than $1 billion.[19] Israel and Turkey 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.[20]

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.
  • 400 km (250 miles) range Delilah cruise missiles.
  • Popeye-II surface-to-air missiles for $150 million.
  • Arrow anti-ballistic-missiles. (Agreed by Israel. Approval of the United States is awaited.)
  • 400 km (250 miles) range Delilah cruise missiles. (Negotiation)
  • 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.

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."[11] 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.[21]

In October 2009, in connection to the crisis following the Turkish denial of Israel's participation in the Anatolian Eagle military exercise in Turkey, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu objected to Turkey as a mediator, and claimed "Turkey can't be honest broker," between Syria and Israel.[22]

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." [3][4] The Turkish government's condemnation of Israel's military campaign in Gaza in 2009 strained relations between the two countries.[23][24] There were demonstrations across Turkey against Israeli actions in Gaza.[25][26] and accused the moderator of not allowing him to speak. When the audience applauded Peres, he 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, had given him a minute to reply, then asked him to finish, saying that people needed to go to dinner.[27] In response, Major-General Avi Mizrahi advised the Turkish Prime Minister to "look in the mirror." He stated that since Turkey still occupied Northern Cyprus, it had no right to criticize Israel. [28]

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan heavily criticized Israel's conduct in the Gaza war at the 2009 World Economic Forum conference in Davos.[29]On October 11, 2009, Israel was barred from Anatolian Eagle military exercise in Turkey. The aerial exercise was to consist of Turkey, Israel, the United States, and Italy. However, Turkey refused to allow Israel to attend.

In October 2009, Ayrılık (Farewell), a prime-time serial on Turkish state-sponsored television channel TRT 1 featured fictionalized scenes of Israeli soldiers shooting Palestinian children and mistreating elderly Arabs.[30] Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman criticized the program,[31] and rebuked the Turkish Ambassador in front of assembled media.[32] He subsequently apologized in the face of a Turkish threat to withdraw its ambassador.[32]

In January 2010 Israel condemned an episode of the Turkish soap opera, "Valley of the Wolves: Ambush," on Star television that depicted the Israeli intelligence service Mossad spying inside Turkey and kidnapping Turkish babies. The program also showed Mossad attacking the Turkish embassy in Tel Aviv and taking the ambassador and his family hostage. On 11 January 2010 Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon summoned Turkish ambassador Ahmet Oguz Celikkol to a meeting, At the session, Celikkol 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.[33][34]

Erdoğan criticized Israel's conduct in the Gaza war at the 2009 World Economic Forum conference in Davos.[35] He stormed off the stage after a heated exchange with Israeli president Shimon Peres, triggering a diplomatic incident.[36][37][38] Following the incident, critics warned that the effect of the crisis would be to persuade the West that Erdoğan is aligning Turkey with of Iran, Syria, Hamas and Hezbollah.[39]

Gaza flotilla attack

Main article: Gaza flotilla raid
Famous scene where president of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan speaks harshly on israel military actions in Gaza and leaves the room of World Economic forum in Davos

On 31 May 2010 nine activists (eight of them were Turkish nationals and one was a US national of Turkish origin) were killed by Israeli troops in a raid on the Mavi Marmara, part of the "Gaza Freedom Flotilla",[40] a convoy of six ships carrying 663 people from 37 nations, including pro-Palestinian activists,[41] journalists, and humanitarians. After the raid, which took place in the Mediterranean Sea in international waters,[42] 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.[43]

Armenian Genocide

The Knesset is scheduled to hold a session in June 2010 on the Armenian genocide of 1915, which is attributed to the Ottoman Turks. The Knesset session was planned by Meretz chairman Haim Oron in 2009 who said he does not intend to turn the discussion into a "settling of accounts" with Turkey over the flotilla incident, and plans to ensure that other lawmakers conduct themselves in a similar vein. "I think this issue is deeply significant, and that's why I don't want it to turn into a denigration of our ties with Turkey at the hands of those who previously didn't even want to hold this debate." In an address to the Knesset plenum a month ago, Oron denounced Turkey's wartime conduct toward the Armenians.[44]

October-November 2010

Israel is written as a "central threat" to Turkey in a policy paper written by Turkey's National Security Council. Meanwhile National Security Council removes countries such as Iran and Syria from the list of countries that pose a threat to Turkey. At the same time Israeli Tourism Minister urges Israelis to totally boycott Turkey.


See also

Bibliography

  • Abadi, Jacob (2004). Israel's quest for recognition and acceptance in Asia: garrison state diplomacy. Routledge. ISBN 9780714655765.

References

  1. ^ Abadi, p. 6
  2. ^ Abadi, p.37
  3. ^ a b http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/documents/44edf1a5d337f.pdf
  4. ^ a b "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
  7. ^ [1][dead link]
  8. ^ "Why Israel's flotilla attack was illegal". Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. 2010-06-03. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
  9. ^ "Radikal-çevrimiçi / Yorum / Ortadoğu'da denge arayışı". Radikal.com.tr. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  10. ^ "Turkey, Israel and the US". Thenation.com. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  11. ^ a b c Yaakov Katz (November 12, 2007). "Israel may sell Arrow and Ofek to Turkey". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2007-11-12.
  12. ^ "Web Sites of Israeli Missions Abroad". Israel-mfa.gov.il. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  13. ^ "The Israeli Government's Official Website, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs". Ankara.mfa.gov.il. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  14. ^ http://istanbul.mfa.gov.il/mfm/web/main/document.asp?SubjectID=15851&MissionID=66&LanguageID=0&StatusID=0&DocumentID=-1
  15. ^ "The Israeli Government's Official Website, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs". Istanbul.mfa.gov.il. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  16. ^ Yaakov Katz (November 13, 2007). "Peres, Gul at odds over Iran nuke threat". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2007-11-12.
  17. ^ [2][dead link]
  18. ^ TURKEY-ISRAEL FREE TRADE AGREEMENT[dead link]
  19. ^ Why Israel Needs Turkey, Haaretz
  20. ^ http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1145961328841&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
  21. ^ "Damascus confirms channel with Israel". The Jerusalem Post. March 30, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  22. ^ "Netanyahu: Turkey can't be 'honest broker' in Syria talks". Haaretz. October 18, 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
  23. ^ Turkey rallies to Gaza's plight BBC - BBC NEWS, By Sarah Rainsford (BBC Istanbul), Date: Friday, 16 January 2009
  24. ^ Turkey's drift away from the West Jerusalem Post (Jan 14 2009). Retrieved on 2009-02-04
  25. ^ Hundreds of thousands protest in Turkey against Israeli offensive Hurriyet News
  26. ^ Thousands protest Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip in Turkey Hurriyet News
  27. ^ Turkish PM storms off in Gaza row BBC News
  28. ^ Al Jazeera English: Inside Story- Gaza sours Israel-Turkey relations
  29. ^ "Stormy debate in Davos over Gaza". Al Jazeera English. 2009-01-30. Retrieved 2009-02-01.
  30. ^ "Lay off Iran’s nukes, Turkish leader says." JTA. 28 October 2009. 28 October 2009.
  31. ^ "Turkish TV show has IDF soldiers 'killing' Palestinian kids - Israel News, Ynetnews". Ynetnews.com. 1995-06-20. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  32. ^ a b Renaudie, Jean-Luc (14 January 2010). "Israeli media slam govt handling of row with Turkey". AFP. Retrieved 21 January 2010.
  33. ^ Ayalon to 'behave diplomatically' in future Ynetnews, 13 January 2010
  34. ^ "Israel-Turkey tensions high over TV series". Edition.cnn.com. 2010-01-12. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  35. ^ "Stormy debate in Davos over Gaza". Al Jazeera English. 2009-01-30. Retrieved 2009-02-01.
  36. ^ Turkish PM storms out of Davos' Gaza session, slams moderator Hurriyet Daily News
  37. ^ Stormy debate in Davos over Gaza Al Jazeera English (THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2009)
  38. ^ Erdogan Clashes With Peres, Storms Out of Davos Panel (Update1) Bloomberg
  39. ^ CHAMPION, MARC (June 8, 2010). "Rift Arises in Turkey Over Reaction to Raid". {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  40. ^ Black, Ian; Haroon Siddique (May 31, 2010). "Q&A: The Gaza Freedom flotilla". The Guardian. London: Guardian News and Media. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
  41. ^ Tia Goldenberg (May 31, 2010). "Pro-Palestinian aid flotilla sets sail for Gaza". San Diego Union-Tribune. Associated Press. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
  42. ^ Noah Kosharek (June 2, 2010). "Israel transfers hundreds of Gaza flotilla activists to airport for deportation". Haaretz. Retrieved June 2, 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. ^ Knesset to hold session on Armenian genocide, Haaretz, June 18, 2010
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