Israel-Turkiye Bilateral relations since 1949
The State of Israel and the Republic of Turkiye has been enjoying diplomatic relations since 1949.
As the first Muslim-majority country, The Republic of Turkiye recognized the State of Israel in March 1949.
Turkey's Legation officially inaugurated on 7 January 1950 and the first Turkish Chief of Mission, Seyfullah Esin presented his credentials to Chaim Weizmann, President of Israel. Since, until 1990 the Israeli mission to Turkey was led by a chargé d'affaires and not an ambassador.
Turkish diplomatic representation in Israel upgraded to ambassadorial level. Following the "Jerusalem Law" the level of diplomatic relations between the states was downgraded again to a chargé d'affaires.
After the Gulf War and the Madrid Conference, the level of relations has been restored to an ambassadorial level and the late Mr. Ori Gordon was appointed to be the Israeli ambassador in Ankara. A few months later, the embassy's chief of security Ehud Sadan was killed in a terror attack in Ankara.
Tourism Cooperation Agreement signed and an average of 300,000 Israeli tourists started to visit Turkey every year.
Turkey and Israel signed a few agreements, including a free-trade agreement and a military cooperation agreement. In 1998, a bilateral investment protection treaty was signed between the 2 states.
Turkish president Süleyman Demirel visits Israel, the first Turkish president to do so.
After the 1999 Marmara earthquake, Israel assisted in search and rescue efforts and set up makeshift hospitals with hundreds of personnel from the IDF SAR team, paramedics, surgeons and administrative personnel as one of the largest international teams.
After the visit of the then Turkish foreign minister, Abdullah Gül in Israel the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made an official visit to Israel.
Following the visit, the diplomatic and economic cooperation between the two states has strengthened.
Following the Mavi Marmara Incident, the level of diplomatic relations between the 2 states has downgraded.
After the visit of the then Turkish foreign minister, Abdullah Gül in Israel the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made an official visit to Israel.
Following the visit, the diplomatic and economic cooperation between the 2 states has strengthened.
Following the Mavi Marmara Incident, the level of diplomatic relations between the 2 states has downgraded.
After an agreement between the 2 states the level of relations was restored to an ambassadorial level and Mr. Eitan Na'eh was appointed to be the Israeli ambassador to Ankara.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited Turkey to meet with President Erdoğan.
Irit Lillian was appointed as the Ambassador of the State of Israel in Turkiye on September 19, 2022 and submitted her credentials to the President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan on December 27, 2022.
In the wake of the 2023 earthquake, Israel provided significant humanitarian aid and has deployed more than 430 search and rescue, disaster relief and humanitarian aid workers and sent more than 15 cargo planes with hundreds of tons of humanitarian aid and set up a field hospital.
After the events of October 7th, a diplomatic crisis started between the 2 states and the Israeli embassy in Ankara is closed these days.