The decline of the ‘Syrian effect’ in Turkish-Israeli relations

Abstract

Historically, Syria has played a central role in the formation, development and even deterioration of Turkish-Israeli relations. Given this, it is not surprising that the rapprochement between the two countries started with another development, the bloody civil war, in Syria. Yet, despite the continuing conflicts in Syria and the emergence of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, bilateral relations between Turkey and Israel have not improved as desired. This article will analyze why the “Syrian effect,” unlike in former periods, failed to provide the desired and required cooperation between Turkey and Israel during the Syrian civil war.