Turkey-Israel relations and comparative analysis of their policies towards the Syrian civil war

This thesis examines the historical course of relations between Turkey and Israel and aims to comparatively analyze the two countries policies towards the Syrian civil war. To this end, the study focuses on the evolution of Turkey-Israel relations from a historical perspective, highlighting periods of "ups and downs" in bilateral relations. Against this backdrop, the thesis specifically seeks to answer the question of how both countries policies and attitudes towards the Syrian civil war have been shaped, and presents a comparative analysis of both countries policies towards the conflict in Syria. The thesis also aims to shed light on how the Syrian civil war has affected the relations between Turkey and Israel. This thesis is based on qualitative research methodology. The thesis analyzes secondary sources that constitute the existing historical literature on Turkey-Israel relations, as well as primary documents such as official statements and reports and newspaper reports. At the outbreak of the conflict in Syria, Turkey adopted a policy of regime change, but as the civil war progressed and threats to its own security emerged, it began to adopt a more security-oriented policy. Israel, on the other hand, has favored a weak Assad regime in Syria since the beginning of the conflict as part of a policy that prioritizes its strategic interests over its own national security. This thesis concludes that in the context of the Syrian civil war, the two countries, despite sharing similar concerns, have adopted an opposing discourse and position with regard to their policies in Syria.