The Frenemy Next Door: Turkey and Israel in a Changing Middle East

Policy Update (GPoT Center) no. 6, November 2013

Oded Eran & Gallia Lindenstrauss *

Turkish Israeli relations suffered a big blow because of the Mavi Marmara affair. As Turkey and Israel are working no w on mending their relations, the question remains whether they will be able to avoid fierce competition in a relentlessly changing Middle East following the ‘Arab Spring’. As there are also mutual concerns and incentives to cooperate, the term ‘Frenmity’ may be the best way to describe the future relations between the two. In such a complex relationship, the United States may be of help in increasing the elements of e elements of amity and cooperation.

* Dr. Oded Eran, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), served as director of INSS from July 2008 to November 2011, following a long career in Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other government positions.  Dr. Gallia Lindenstrauss, a researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies, specializes in Turkish foreign policy.

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