The discussion paper by Berfin Nur Osso, former intern at the Institute of International Relations Prague and a senior undergraduate student at the Koç University in Istanbul majoring in Law and minoring in International Relations, focuses on the assessment of the readmission agreement between the EU and Turkey.
The discussion paper by Emir Abbas Gürbüz, former intern at the position of the Independent Researcher and currently a lawyer based in Istanbul, discusses the status of the Responsibility to Protect doctrine in the customary international law and the applicability of the doctrine in the case of Syria.
Several factors have always played an important role in Turkish-Israeli relaons since the two countries
established diplomac relaons in 1949. First of all, both countries have been in the Western camp and have
a special relaonship with the United States. Turkey's recognion of the importance of the Jewish lobby in
US polics and Turkey's contacts with this powerful lobby predated its diplomac contacts with the State of
Israel. When Turkey faced the expansionist threat of the Soviet Union just aer the Second World War and
wished to establish close military es with the United States, it also iniated contacts with the American
Jewish lobby, and recognized the newly established State of Israel. Although Turkey voted against the
Palesne paron plan of the United Naons and the division of Palesnian territories into Arab and Jewish
states in 1947, it became the first regional power to recognize the Israeli State, just a few weeks before the
Turkish foreign minister's first official visit to Washington in 1949. Turkey joined the US-led North Atlanc
Treaty Organizaon (NATO) in 1952 and formed special diplomac and military es with the US during the
1950s.
Topic:
Diplomacy, International Cooperation, Bilateral Relations, History, and Crisis Management
Mensur Akgün, Muhammed Ammash, Nimrod Goren, Gabriel Mitchell, and Sylvia Tiryaki
Publication Date:
01-2016
Content Type:
Commentary and Analysis
Institution:
Global Political Trends Center
Abstract:
Turkey and Israel face a unique opportunity: to reconcile after five years of stagnant bilateral
relations. We, leaders of Israeli and Turkish think tanks that have been working together
since 2012 to support the mending of Israel-Turkey relations, welcome this development and
call on the leaders of both countries to seize this opportunity.
In mid-December, officials from both countries met in Switzerland in order to finalize principles
for an eventual agreement to normalize ties. Reports confirm that an outline and framework for the
reconciliation agreement has indeed been reached, although some important issues – such as the
blockade on the Gaza Strip – are still unresolved.
Israel and Turkey came close to sealing a reconciliation deal on several occasions since the 2010 Mavi
Marmara incident, most recently in the spring of 2014. However, while diplomats managed to find
formulas that would overcome the differences between the countries, political leadership in Ankara
and Jerusalem was hesitant to put the agreement into practice. This time around, there seems to be a
convergence of economic and geostrategic interests, as well as political will on both sides.
Topic:
Development, Diplomacy, Treaties and Agreements, and Bilateral Relations
This Strategic Update traces the story of this major diplomatic breakthrough, through the historical context of long term US-Iran relations and the tireless international effort to prevent domestic political crises from derailing the negotiations.
Topic:
International Political Economy and International Affairs
In the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis of 2007-
08, observers of international markets disagreed about the
likely response of the World Trade Organization.1
Pointing to
a contraction of global trade flows by 9 percent in 2009, some
commentators suggested that the WTO’s rules were incapable
of stemming a tide of increasing protectionism.2
Still, others
cautioned that overzealous regulation of national industrial
policies by the WTO would limit distressed governments’ ability to cope. Who was right?