U.S.A. influence on Turkey Israel relationship: A constructivist approach

Turkey-Israel relationships have been in a state of ups and downs since 1948 when Israel emerged as an independent state. In this process we see that the USA did not remain indifferent to the positive or negative developments between the two countries. Because Israel has a priority and strategic position in American foreign policy. Israel's security is the most important factor determining the US policy in the Middle East. From this point of view the countries that have problems with Israel in the Middle East and the elements that pose a threat to Israel face the USA directly or indirectly. The aim of this study is to evaluate Turkey-Israel relationships on the axis of American foreign policy with a constructivist approach. The reasons behind the unconditional support of the United States to Israel, which is almost a shield for Israel in international relations and places Israel at the center of its foreign policy, have been tried to be explained with a constructivist approach. The ties of the special relationship between the United States and Israel have been tried to be revealed through discourses, cultures, identities and interests which are the key concepts of constructivism. The reasons for the unconditional support of the United States to Israel in every sense in international relations and the United States's pro-Israel attitude in Turkish-Israeli relationship have been tried to explain based on the main hypothesis of constructivism "identities create interests and interests shape the foreign policy preferences of states". Regarding that when the study looks at the foreign policy outcomes, it is argued that the constructivist approach lies at the root of the pro-Israeli attitudes of the United States in both Israel's practices in the Middle East and in Turkey-Israel relationship. The USA's support of Israel's operations against Gaza, veto on the decisions against Israel at the UN, support of Israeli settlement activities in the Palestinian territories, backing up Israel in the occupation of the Golan Heights, recognizing of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moving the American Embassy to Jerusalem are the main pro-Israeli practices in American foreign policy. On the other hand, the USA also follows a pro-Israeli foreign policy in the relationship between Turkey and Israel. While Turkey supports the establishment of an independent Palestinian State with Jerusalem as its capital, Israel's practices in the opposite direction and the pro-Israel attitude of the United States have led to fractures in bilateral relationships. In addition the USA has been involved in the problems between Turkey and Israel crisis issues such as Davos and Mavi Marmara with a constructivist understanding. In the end, it has been concluded that the approach of the USA to Turkey-Israel relationship basically stems from the Evangelical identity which has similar characteristics with the Jewish identity.