Turkish-Israeli Relations after the Apology

German Marshall Fund of the United States, April 12, 2013

Bülent Aras *

In March 2013, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized to the Turkish people for Israeli mistakes during the Mavi Marmara incident. U.S. President Barack Obama deserves the lion’s share of credit for mediating to mend the ties, but the leaders acted wisely given the pressing regional situation. What will happen after the apology? Will the upgrade in relations last? Or will they soon face another low? In the past, the repair of the relations usually took much longer, so this rather quick recovery bodes well for the future. Obviously, there are enduring problems in the relationship, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan both recognize. Domestic political landscapes also matter, and careful thinking and planning on both sides is vital.

* Bülent Aras has been the chairman of the Foreign Ministry’s Strategic Research Center since November 2010. He is currently a visiting fellow with Wilson Center.

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