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This article is based on a paper presented at the June 8-9, 2009 conference entitled "Israel and the Arab States: Parallel Interests, Relations, and Strategies," jointly held in Jerusalem by the Global Research in International Affairs (GLORIA) Center and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. The article discusses Israeli-Iraqi relations in the post-Saddam era, arguing that Iraq has distanced itself from its traditional radicalism and adopted a more pragmatic and moderate posture. Still, close ties between Iran and Iraqi Shi'a groups in particular threaten the chances for normalization between Jerusalem and Baghdad, while the U.S. ability or willingness to challenge Iran on this matter is limited. Also discussed is the positive Kurdish-Israeli relationship and areas of potential cooperation. At the same time, however, there exist Kurdish fears of negative reactions from non- Kurdish Iraqis and the Arab world and Israeli fears of antagonizing Turkey and jeopardizing its strategic partnership with it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turkish foreign policy has recently undergone remarkable changes, and these changes have led to a considerable degree of foreign policy activism, most notably in the Middle East, which has never been seen throughout the history of the Turkish Republic. It is unquestionable that Turkey's activism in the Middle East increased the country's power in the Arab-Muslim political circles but also caused deterioration in Turkish-Israeli relations. Although there has been a consensus on relating the changes in Turkish foreign policy towards the Middle East with the Justice and Development Party's (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi, AKP) leading echelons, to date only a few studies attempted to incorporate a particular theoretical approach to explain this agency based shift. This paper argues that role theory can be incorporated into the theory of securitization and it can be used as a conceptual tool for decoding Turkey's strained relations with Israel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay analyzes the relationship between Turkey and Israel against the background of the AKP ascent to power in Turkey in 2002 and the invasion of Iraq in 2003. It argues that notwithstanding the sea changes that occurred in the region following the invasion, as well as the far-reaching changes in Turkey's foreign policy, both states still have vested interests in maintaining their close relationship, even at times of crisis. One of the most important explanations for their relations' longevity is that the two states have no serious problems on the bilateral level, while their strategic, economic and societal common interests have been strong enough to weather crises. The paper also explores the implications for the future of the Turkish-Israeli relationship of Turkey's policy during Israel's operations against Hamas in Gaza. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the relationship between trade and politics, particularly the effect of improved or deteriorated political ties upon economic relations with particular reference to the bilateral trade and diplomatic relations between Turkey and Israel. The study attempts to identify under what conditions bilateral trade is affected by any significant change in political relations. It finds that economic relations were relatively bolstered at times of enhanced political relations whereas visible deterioration or decline was observed in the volume and state of trade relations at some critical points when diplomatic relations worsened. However, this does not refer to a constant and steady decline and is limited to some severe diplomatic crises experienced in bilateral relations. Some major premises of Realist and Liberal theories are employed to analyse the findings in this study. These findings are at least partially against the main arguments in the literature of the Liberal approach that trade determines politics. However, the course of trade relations between Israel and Turkey appears to be consistent with the tenets of the Realist theory which pays greater attention to security than it does to trade relations and argues that trade may not be relevant to improved bilateral political relations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The 1990s witnessed a growing rapprochement in relations between Turkey and Israel, which in a decade's time have become strained, reaching an all-time low with the Mavi Marmara incident in 2010. This article aims to analyze the developments in relations between the two countries mainly in the 2000s. The domestic, regional, and international levels are examined, with special attention to the factors that led to the current state of strained relations between the two countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In light of recent developments in the Middle East, in particular, the Arab revolts in the first few months of 2011 and the AKP's June 2011 election victory, this article aims to define the changing parameters of Turkey's new “Middle Eastern policy” under the AKP government, which is based on a new civilizational discourse and a differentiated geopolitical approach. It also discusses the basic dynamics and ideological and doctrinal background of Turkey's new Middle Eastern policy in order to understand the opportunities and constraints of its potential “facilitator and conciliator” role in the changing political circumstances of the region following the recent Arab uprisings. Despite the limits of Ankara's new civilizational and geopolitical orientation in both discourse and policy, which have at times undermined Turkey's neutrality on intra-Arab or Iranian–Arab axes and its facilitation role between Israel and its regional adversaries, Turkey's new regional posture for the Middle East represents an awakening rather than an illusion. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article examines the relations of Turkey and Israel as of 2006. Both countries represent strong secular democracies that value the strategic relationship with the U.S. The countries face hostile neighborhood that views them with suspicion and hostility. The historical roots the countries' relations predate the Cold War and the formations of both the Republic of Turkey in 1923 and the State of Israel in 1947.

Focuses on the water trade between Israel and Turkey. Relationship between the Israeli and Turkish governments; Water supply problems facing Israel; Ways to deal with the water crisis in Israel; Concerns over the creation of water resources in Israel.

As a result of the February 28,1997, incident, Islamist parties have been ostracized and excluded from governmental politics. This has caused serious legitimacy, participation, and representation crises in the Turkish polity. This study examines whether the Justice and Development Party's (Adalet ve Kalkinma Partisi - AKP) landslide victory in the November 2002 elections has put an end to the February 28 Process. It also suggest that further liberalization of the Turkish regime will be possible only if the religious and secular parties come together and agree on the rules for future engagement. Thus, with reference to President Inonu's July 12 Declaration and the Israeli status quo model of 1947, this essay attempts to sketch out these rules of engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the limitations in the Turkish-Israeli alliance. Definition on the Turkish-Israeli alliance; Conflict in military agreement between the two countries; Expectations of the two countries to the alliance; Social limits of the alliance.

Examines Arab countries' perceptions of Turkey and its alliance with Israel. Relations between Arab countries and Turkey; Impact of the alliance on Arab-Israeli peace process; Turkey's proposal to sell water to Arab countries; Arab countries' objection to include Turkey in a regional system; Arab countries' plan to form a counter-alliance.

Examines the relations among Turkey, Israel and Iran since the Gulf War in 1990. Impact of the relations on the Middle East; Details on the armament and human rights problems; Isolation of Iran from the international system; How regional and global policies have been affected.

Examines the Turkish-Israeli relations in the post-Cold War era in the context of Ankara's policy, the capital of Turkey. Account of the Turkish-Israeli relations; Reasons for the increasing ties between Turkey and Israel in 1990; Different aspects of the two countries' relationship; Prospects and limitations of the relations between the two countries.