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Turkey - Israel Relations

Relations between Turkey and Israel have witnessed many fluctuations since their inception in the early 1990s. These fluctuations cannot be explained by looking at certain events, personalities of Turkish or Israeli leaders; or even by studying bilateral relations alone. The relationship is dictated more by the stance of either of the two countries, toward third parties. More importantly, relations are a product of the structural changes in the two countries’ operational environments.

Addressing AK Party’s parliamentary group meeting 25 October 2023, President Erdogan said:" We do not have any problem with the State of Israel, but we never have and never will approve of Israel’s oppression and their course of action that resembles that of an organization rather than a state. Israel has since October 7 been conducting one of the bloodiest, the most hideous and the most violent attacks of history against the innocent people in Gaza.

“Almost half of those who have died in Israel’s attacks on Gaza have been children, and the other half mothers and family elders of those children. Merely this fact is enough to show that the intention is not to protect themselves but a brutality aimed at committing a deliberate crime against humanity. There is no other country or army in the world that bombs the cities with warplanes night and day to kill children, fires hospitals, places of worship, schools, markets, buildings, streets, and that keeps committing this crime against humanity with its tanks, artilleries and weapons."

Erdogan stressed that the Israeli government should seek security not 10 thousand kilometers away, but in its neighbors in the region, especially Türkiye. “When the powers on whom Israel relies today pack up and leave tomorrow to put out the fires in their own homes, the first place the Israeli people will look for safety and compassion will be Türkiye, just as it was 500 years ago. What we ask from the Israeli government and society is that they refrain from behaviors that will damage this centuries-old sense of compassion of our nation and heed our call for peace. We are aware that the forces that, starting a century ago, surrounded us with the cruelty that drowned these lands, which house the oldest settlements in the world, in blood and fire, do not want a solution today as was the case yesterday. Those who cause the problem, of course, do not want a solution. The deeper the crisis goes, the more complicated it becomes, the better it is for their interests. This is the reason behind the provocative statements and actions since the crisis began on October 7,” President Erdogan said.

Erdogan noted that he, once in his life, shook the hand of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel at the Turkish House in New York, and added: “We had goodwill, but it has been exploited. We had a project to go to Israel, but we canceled it, we will not be going. If they had continued with goodwill, we could have had different relations, but unfortunately we will not have, because they have exploited our goodwill.”

Stressing that Israel will not be achieving anything with this mindset, President Erdogan said: “You can take either the U.S., the others or the West next to you, but you cannot achieve anything. America will lose as well, because they do not ensure that justice prevails in the world, they do not want it."

“We as the Turkish nation are the only people in the world that has never practiced racism,” President Erdogan noted, and went on to say: “It is the Jewish community that knows this fact the best. We are the only state and Türkiye is the only geography where, although Jews have lived throughout centuries on its lands, anti-Semitism has not been emerged. None of those, who stand in line to support Israel for the children and innocent people it has killed, can proudly make such a statement. This includes their rabbis.

“Are not they the ones who, all through false excuses and pawn organizations they have established, have caused the death of 2 million people in Iraq, 1 million people in Afghanistan and 1 million in Syria over the past 25 years alone? Are not they the ones who have attempted to silence through threats, and even blackmails the university students, academics, journalists, artists, athletes and business people who have made in their countries statements in favor of the oppressed Palestinian people?"

On 07 October 2023 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkiye stated: "We are deeply concerned about the violence and tension occurred in Israel and Palestine today (October 7). We attach high importance to the restoration of calm in the region as soon as possible, and strongly condemn the loss of civilian lives. We underline that acts of violence and associated escalations will not benefit anyone, and call on the parties to act with restraint and avoid impulsive steps.

"As Türkiye, we are always ready to contribute to the best of our ability to ensure that these developments can be taken under control before they escalate further and spread to a wider area. In this regard, we continue our intensive contacts with the relevant parties. These sad developments once again show the importance of the two-state solution vision. We call on the parties to renounce the use of force and work for a lasting solution in line with this vision without further delay."

On 29 October 2023 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkiye stated: "We absolutely reject the slander and unfounded allegations of some Israeli officials. The efforts of some Israeli officials, who cannot even tolerate the truth and facts being expressed, to change the agenda with distortions and slander in the hope of covering up the brutal massacre targeting Palestinian civilians in Gaza will not yield results.

"The fact that these authorities, who commit a crime against humanity in front of the whole world but cannot even tolerate criticism and condemnation, target the United Nations, the UN Secretary-General, H.E. Mr. Antonio Guterres, and our President, H.E. Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is a clear indication of their impotence. We reject the baseless accusations of anti-Semitism, and the slander and insults against our President and our country.

"It is known to everyone that, Türkiye’s track record on this issue is spotless - unlike many countries that support Israel unconditionally today. It is a truth acknowledged by all historians that Türkiye has been a safe haven for all those who were oppressed throughout history, including the Jews. We urgently call on the Israeli authorities to heed the calls for ceasefire and peace in order to end this barbarism that aims to completely destroy the people of Gaza."

"In view of the unfolding humanitarian tragedy in Gaza caused by the continuing attacks by Israel against civilians, and Israel’s refusal of calls for ceasefire and continuous and unhindered flow of humanitarian aid, it was decided to recall our Ambassador in Tel Aviv, H.E. Mr. Sakir Özkan Torunlar, to Ankara for consultations." the MFA stated 04 November 2023.

On 15 November 2023 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkiye stated: "Israeli officials, who have entered the dark pages of history with the oppression and massacres committed against the Palestinian people, have no right to talk about the law. Benjamin Netanyahu and Eli Cohen, who are both uncomfortable with the truth being expressed, will not be able to cover up their own crimes with their unfounded slander about H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Republic of Türkiye.

"Israeli authorities, who have already lost their legitimacy in the conscience of humanity, will not be able to conceal the crimes they committed by bombing hospitals and killing women and children in front of the whole world and will not be able to divert attention. The instigators and perpetrators of these crimes against humanity, which have caused deep indignation in the global public opinion, will sooner or later be tried. Türkiye will continue to stand against the massacre in Gaza and support the just cause of the Palestinian people."

Turkey had been at odds with PM Benjamin Netanyahu over several issues, including Israel’s attitude towards Palestinian lands. The two countries had a bitter falling out in recent years, despite strong commercial ties, expelling ambassadors in 2018 over clashes when dozens of Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces on the Gaza border. Ankara repeatedly condemned Israel's occupation in the West Bank and its treatment of Palestinians. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said 25 December 2020 his country would like to have better ties with Israel, but criticised Israeli policy toward Palestinians for Ankara, adding that intelligence talks resumed between the two sides. "The Palestine policy is our red line. It is impossible for us to accept Israel's Palestine policies. Their merciless acts there are unacceptable," Erdogan said. "If there were no issues at the top level, our ties could have been very different," he added. "We would like to bring our ties to a better point."

Ankara slammed the US-brokered rapprochements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco, with Erdogan previously threatening to suspend diplomatic ties with the UAE and withdraw its envoy. It also slammed Bahrain's decision to formalise ties as a blow to efforts to defend the Palestinian cause.

In 1995 an estimated 18,000 to 20,000 Jews lived in Turkey. The US government estimated the Jewish population at 18,000 (July 2014 estimate). During the first half of the twentieth century, the Jewish population remained relatively stable at around 90,000. Following the establishment of Israel in 1948, an estimated 30,000 Jews immigrated to the new state. An average of 1,000 Jews annually left for Israel during the 1950s and early 1960s. By 1965 the Jewish minority had been reduced to an estimated 44,000, most of whom lived in Istanbul, Istanbul, where many Jewish men operated shops and other small businesses.

The decision to create a “Turkey-Israel axis” was meant as a counterbalance to the “Iran-Syria axis” in the region. In July 1999, the Turkish Prime Minister’s office declared Turkey’s rapprochement with Israel as having become a necessity due to “Arab nations’ hostile actions towards Turkey, and their allegiance to Syria despite Syria’s support to the PKK.” From the Israeli side, it was beneficial to establish close relations with Turkey and its military. It enabled Israel to break its isolation in the Middle East; and the Israeli Air Force gained the chance to train in Turkish skies. In addition, The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) was in need of modernization, know-how and equipment during the second half of the 1980’s and was in search of new resources. During this time, Turkey and Israel started cooperating on air force projects.

In 2002, the domestic environment in Turkey changed, and the moderately Islamic Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power. AKP’s new foreign policy, which required engagement with its Arab neighbors, necessitated a more vocal criticism of Israel and a more sensitive tone to the Palestinian issue. Bashing Israel was used as a political tool in 2009, 2010 and onwards by Ankara to return to the region. Turkey’s Islamist-rooted AK Party had been one of Israel's most strident critics, even reportedly providing sanctuary to prominent Hamas members.

Relations between Israel and Turkey deteriorated after the Freedom Flotilla incident in 2010, when a convoy of six ships, including one under Turkey's flag, tried to approach the Gaza Strip with humanitarian aid and activists on board. The flotilla was blocked and stormed by Israeli forces, resulting in eight Turkish citizens being killed. Turkey responded by expelling the Israeli ambassador from the country, recalling its ambassador from Israel and demanding a formal apology from Israel, as well as compensation for the victims' families.

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel on August 20, 2013 of having a hand in the Egyptian military's overthrow of president Mohamed Morsi, making comments likely to further undermine efforts to restore Ankara's strained ties with Israel.“What do they say in Egypt? Democracy is not the ballot box. What is behind it? Israel. We have in our hands documentation,” Erdogan told provincial leaders of his AK Party.

There was a sharp increase in anti-Semitic protests and anti-Semitic statements in mass and social media during the conflict in Gaza in July 2014, accompanied by violence against Israeli diplomatic properties and threats of violence against the country’s Jews. The Jewish community expressed growing concern and unease over these incidents.

In July during the conflict in Gaza, then-Prime Minister Erdogan and several senior government officials made public anti-Semitic statements. Elected officials made generalized statements against Jews.

A series of protests targeted the Israeli Consulate General in Istanbul and the Israeli Embassy in Ankara on July 18. The following day, then-Prime Minister Erdogan stated the Israelis had “surpassed Hitler in barbarism.” Members of parliament from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) joined protestors waving Turkish and Palestinian flags, who damaged the Israeli ambassador’s residence in Ankara with stones. Samil Tayyar, an AKP member of parliament, posted an online message to Jews saying “let your race be finished off, and may Hitler never be too far away.” Ankara Mayor Melih Gokcek reportedly stated, “We do not want an embassy of murderers in Turkey.”

Later on July 19, a senior advisor to then-Prime Minister Erdogan called on the Turkish people to “be prudent about the Jewish population in Turkey,” and said, “It is the Government of Israel, not the Israeli people, and certainly not the Jewish Community in Turkey, who are Turkish citizens, that we criticize.” In a September 22 interview, President Erdogan said, “Our criticism is not directed to the Jews. It is only and solely directed at the Israeli administration and its policies, and no one should distort this.”

After an Israeli incursion into Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem in late November 2014, Edirne Governor Dursun Ali Sahin said, “While those bandit-like people are massacring Muslims, we are building their synagogues here.” He said that a synagogue in Edirne under renovation by the government would be reopened as “only a museum.” The Jewish community released a statement saying Israeli policies did not give any official the right to target Jews of Turkey. Deputy Prime Minister Arinc said the government “did not plan to remove the worship function” from the synagogue. Governor Sahin later retracted his comments and called the chief rabbi to apologize.

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu strongly attacked the Israeli government, accusing it of being insincere in wanting to resolve the crisis over the killings. In early Decembe 2010 there had been hopes of a resolution when Turkey sent firefighting planes to Israel to help put out a deadly forest fire. But diplomatic efforts faltered on Ankara's demand for an apology over the flotilla incident. Foreign Minister Davutoglu even questioned whether Israel would have helped Turkey so promptly if it had faced a similar disaster like the forest fire. That drew an angry response from Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who pointed out the relief Israel sent to Turkey after a devastating quake in 1999.

By September 2011 the United States mounted a diplomatic effort to prevent further deterioration in relations between US allies Turkey and Israel. Turkey warned it would use force in the future to protect aid ships from Turkey trying to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza.

Restoring Israeli and Turkish relations could help Washington’s efforts to balance Iran’s growing influence in the region. Ankara shares its close allies Qatar and Saudi Arabia’s concerns about an emboldened Tehran following a nuclear deal that was set to lift many Iranian sanctions. The Iran nuclear deal, which would let Tehran play a larger role in world energy markets, might be the real driving force behind rapprochement efforts.

According to reports in December 2015 citing Israeli officials, Israel will pay around $20 million in compensation to the families of the 10 Turkish activists killed by Israeli commandos. In exchange, Ankara will drop legal cases against those involved. Lifting the Gaza embargo has always been a deal breaker for Israel and a reason why previous rapprochement efforts failed.

In a sign of improving relations, a billion-dollar deal was struck in January 2016 between Turkish and Israeli energy companies to develop and distribute Israel’s recently discovered huge gas reserves. Ankara eyed those reserves to help it reduce dependence on Russian energy supplies. Ankara and Moscow remained at odds over Turkey's downing of a Russian warplane along Turkish-Syrian border in November 2015. Ankara was also concerned about Moscow's deepening relations with regional rival Iran, and fear of a resurgent Iran was another factor driving Turkish-Israeli rapprochement efforts.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed readiness to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel during his visit to the United States, Turkish media reported 30 March 2016. Speaking with Jewish leaders at a closed-doors meeting in Washington, Erdogan acknowledged disagreements between Ankara and Tel Aviv on a range of issues, but noted that they are solvable. "To do this, there needs to be a show of goodwill and true intentions. We are for the normalization of relations and the development of cooperation [between Turkey and Israel]," Erdogan said as quoted by the Anadolu news service.

Israel and Turkey announced 27 June 2016 a reconciliation deal to end a bitter six-year rift between the Mideast powers. In Rome, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on June 27 that the deal would help bring "stability" to the turbulent Middle East. His Turkish counterpart, Binali Yildirim, made a simultaneous announcement in Ankara. Relations between the once-close allies worsened six years ago after an Israeli naval raid killed nine Turks onboard an aid ship trying to breach Israel's blockade of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. Under the deal announced on June 27, the two countries will restore full diplomatic relations. Israel will pay $20 million in compensation, and it will allow Turkey to carry out a series of aid projects in Gaza. Yildirim said the deal "largely" lifted the Israeli blockade, while Netanyahu said the blockade remains in place.

The move towards reconciliation with Israel came the same day Turkey mended fences with Russia. The resignation of Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu provided Turkey with a “golden opportunity” to mend relations with Russia and other states, former Turkish FM Yashar Yakish said. “The change in the post of the Prime Minister (Davutoglu was replaced by Binali Yildirim) - this was a golden opportunity to launch new initiatives in the foreign policy,” Yakish, who was Turkey’s foreign minister in 2002-03, said.