Turkey’s Role in Hamas’ Cease-fire: A Sign of Turkish Cooperation or Competition?

Bulletin PISM, No. 7 (460), 16 January 2013
The Polish Institute of International Affairs

Pinar Elman *

The November 2012 conflict between Israel and Hamas was concluded by a cease-fire sponsored by Egypt and with the support of the USA, Turkey and Qatar. Although the cease-fire fulfilled the four states’ common objectives, Turkey’s underlying motives and understanding of the conflict differed from the EU Member States and the U.S. These differences provide an early warning for future splits between the international partners on possible future cooperation in the Middle East. They highlight the need to redefine the “Turkish model” in a way that would include all elements that make today’s Turkey influential, including its Europeanisation.

* Pinar Elman is an analyst at the Polish Institute of International Affairs.

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