| As a key member of NATO, Turkey actively joined Western block since 1947, and it was first and one of the few Muslim countries, which recognized Israel as a state in 1949. Since 1950, strategic dimension of bilateral relations culminated between these two countries, including economic, cultural and politic dimensions as well as military cooperation. However, as clearly observed that both Turkey and Israel have been potential to change the Middle East politics positively or negatively. Given this, the thesis aims to use FPA formula and Classical Realism to explain the reasons behind why the new Turkey’ ruling party(Justice and Development Party) pursuing more active policy to Palestine issue, which have been severely strained the relations between Turkey and Israel in Middle East. Strategist and scholar Henry Kissinger argued 60 years ago that “there is no significant conclusion are possible for the study of foreign affairs- the study of states acting as units-without an awareness of historical context.”(p.331) This study begins a survey of Turkey’ foreign policy towards to Israel at the time when Israel was founded as a new state. Turkey officially recognized Israel as a state even though it had voted against the U.N partition plan for Palestine. For sure, both Turkey and Israel were alliance of US during the Cold war. IDF soldiers’ practice in Turkish airspace and Israel’s technicians’ modernizing the Turkish jets as well as tourism and trade cooperation was a few examples of bilateral relations between Turkey and Israel. However, during the Cold war as Turkey sharing common strategic interest with Israel but common cultural and historical ties with Arab worlds, a balanced policy was pursued by Turkey. Turkey was out of Middle East policy much of Cold war period and struggled to avoid presenting itself as an ally of Israel. As Israel being an ally of USA favoring the build strong relations with Turkey in order not to be isolated by Middle East countries, Turkey’ approach towards to Israel has been unstable and changeable.As a matter of fact, whenever the conflicts between Israel and Arab states grew, the Turkish foreign policy was surely affected badly. For example, aftermath of Arab – Israel’s war(1956), the relation between Turkey and Israel was at the level as a chief of mission. After the declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel by Israel’s authorities, Turkey protested this decision and withdrew its consulate(1980). However, the golden years of both countries were after the Gulf war years(1991). On one hand, Kurdish separatists in Northern Iraq benefited the loss of territorial authority of Baghdad, on the other hand, they were supported logistically by Syria and Iran. So, security policy of Turkey provided a necessity for alliance of security with Israel in the late 1990 s. The military exercises and defense cooperation supplied military visit and joint military exercises and such. Another positive atmosphere between Turkey and Israel’s relations took place in as a result of Israel and Palestine peace process in the early of 1990 s, which made possible to raise the mutual diplomatic relations to Ambassador level. However, with the rising violence during the Second Intifada, the failure of peace talks in David Camp and Israel’s storming of Jennin refugee camp(a raid which resulted in massive civilian losses of life) and USA’ consent with it created a negative public opinion in Turkey. And Turkish authorities rejected Israel military joint exercises in East Mediterranean(2001), which indicates that even though Turkey continues its relations with Israel based on realist political reasons, they could not remain unconcerned to the sympathies of public opinion, which fundamentally stemmed from drastic changes in domestic policies with EU reform package.In November 2002, Justice and Development Party(AKP) which are defined ‘Democrat and Islam’s party’ by its cadres assumed to power in Turkey. Many of the members of AKP begun their political careers with Welfare party, which was closed by courts allegedly due to violating the principle of secularism. In order to reduce democratic insufficiency and provide requirements for EU accession, upon the AKP assumed the power with a single-party government with majority, economic programs for raising its economy and reforms in domestic policy such as cultural rights, freedom of expression and civilian control of military were adopted. Not surprisingly, the sharpest decline in Turkish Israel relations occurred as the military lost its influence in Turkey. Regarding Turkish population’ sense of Palestine solidarity and the support of AKP voters to Palestinians, it is quite understandable why there is a downgrade in relations between Turkey and Israel. In fact, Turkey’ rising an effective actor player in Middle East started after AKP came to party. According to AKP’ foreign policy, Turkey in the past was unsuccessful to create an influence zone in the Middle East and all stabilities in Middle East directly affected to Turkey. However, with new foreign policy, Turkey actively took part in the problems in the Middle East. So, Palestine which is the main reasons of stability in the Middle East became one of the most important examples in the new foreign policy understanding of Turkey. AKP using a number of principles and reforms and aiming both discursive and operational changes in foreign policy tried to systematically change foreign policy of Turkey. So in this sense, AKP as shifting status quo and military-based foreign policy that prevent the solution of problems and aimed an active and multidimensional policy, especially towards to Middle East.Prime Minister Erdogan made an official visit to Israel in 2005 to offer a mediating role for peace of Middle East and Erdogan told Sharon that anti-Semitism is a crime against humanity. Even Turkey attempted to be a mediator role between Israel and Syria. But Israel’ Cast Lead operation against Hamas in 2008 which was to prevent. Rockets attack from Gaza scuttled the talks. This reaction should not be evaluated just in terms of Turkish emotion, rather it is ideological combination of current party and the new role in which Turkey is seeking to play a regional power in Middle East. In fact, Turkey was the first country that opened its doors for Hamas leaders after winning the elections in Palestine. Upon Hamas leader Khaled Mashal official visit to Turkey, relations with Israel started to be cool off. In January 2010, Israel protested Turkey due to Turkish soap opera, which depicted Israeli spy fleeing in Turkey and kidnapping innocent Turkish babies. To complain this TV series, Israel’ Deputy Foreign Minister invited Turkish ambassador during the meeting, he insulted Turkish ambassador by giving a lower seat to him and asking media to photograph it. Though quickly, apologize, AKP evaluated this event as a deliberate insult.Notably, the relations sharply deteriorated after 2008-2009 war and the 2010 Mavi Marmara flotilla raid. As a reaction of Gazza operation by Israel, the prime minister of Turkey had outburst words against to Israel President Peres at World Economic Forum in Davos, blaming Israel’s government about killing innocent and civilians in Palestine before storming off the stage. For example, in June 2009, Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan had outburst words against to Israel President Peres at World Economic Forum in Davos, blaming Israel’s government about killing innocent and civilians in Palestine.The tension between these two countries was peaked in May 2010 when Israel army raided Turkey’s Mavi Marmara aid ship, which was going on international water and aimed to break Gaza Strip, resulted in deaths of 8 Turkish and one Turkish-American death. The ship was purchased by IHH, a Turkish Islamic group to have relations with AKP. Israel viewed this incident as an attempt by AKP to undermine its security and to create a negative image of Israel in order to gain more sympathy in Arab world. Even though Israel government in 2013 apologized to Turkish people for any mistakes and loss of lives and accepted to make agreements on compensation of dead Turkish citizen and their families, bilateral relations still have remained strained.This work also aims to analyze the reason of changes of Turkish new foreign policy in general since 2002 under the AKP(Justice and Development Party) and to make an assessment about the reason of this change as taking case of Palestine issue in particular. Given this, the thesis was framed into five parts, including both introduction and conclusion.First chapter, also introduction, consists of the main issue discussed throughout the thesis, introduction, methodology, question and literature review in brief.Second Chapter highlights theoretical framework. The study uses classical realism to support the main argument.Third chapter emphasizes Turkish foreign policy during and after the cold war in general and Turkey’s relation with Israel and Turkey’ approach to Palestine problem in particular. This section provides a brief historical review of the ‘golden relations’ between Turkey and Israel before 2002 in order to explain what factors made Israel and Turkey come to be cooperative in the Middle East issues.Forth chapter continues to present in details the reasons why and how Turkish foreign policy changes in paste decades and will explain current party differences than before once. The factors which make AKP possible to be dominant in Turkish politics for a long time will be analyzed and while doing this, I will mostly discuss the elements which have been influential to bring new dimension of Turkey’s agenda such as the new ruling system, domestic factors and as such.Chapter five comprises of using theory in explaining Turkish foreign policy in case of Palestine problem. I will make an assessment using Hans Morganthau’s classical realism as explaining Turkish foreign policy changes towards to Palestine issue and Israel.In the final part of the thesis, conclusion, was an attempt to evaluate the questions discussed in the thesis with a balanced discourse on the facts and theories. |
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