Explainer: Turkey-Israel RelationsCIE+
Turkish-Israeli relations have swung between friendship and hostility since Turkey became the first Muslim-majority country to recognize Israel in 1949.
Era I: Jewish Peoplehood to 1897
From the biblical covenants, Jews bound themselves to the belief in one G-d, an unbreakable tie to the Land of Israel. From its inception, Jewish identity was wrapped around the mutual commitments between G-d and the people. Judaism became the foundation for Christianity and Islam.
Era II: Zionism to Israel, 1898 to 1948
From 1898 to 1948, Zionism evolved from an idea to a concrete reality: the actual establishment of the Jewish state, Israel. Slowly, a few immigrating Jews created facts by linking people to the land. For half a century, fortuity and fortitude made the Zionist undertaking a reality. They exhibited pragmatism and gradually constructed a nucleus for a state. Through perseverance Zionists empowered themselves.
Great Powers, the Middle East and the Cold WarsCIE+
The clash of great powers to control the Middle East, particularly between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R., neither began after World War II nor ended with the demise of the Soviet Union in 1991. Today, China, the U.S., Russia and Middle Eastern regional powers vie to influence everyday politics and resources.
Turkey-Iran Rivalry: The Middle East’s Great New GameCIE+
The aftermath of the “Arab Spring” and waning of great power influence has seen Turkey and Iran, both with imperials pasts to assert themselves regionally. Another Shia-Sunni rivalry unfolds. Look for local proxies to join sides.
