Yes, Turkey formally recognized Israel in 1949, becoming the first Muslim-majority nation to do so, and maintained diplomatic ties with periods of strong military and economic cooperation, though relations have become highly strained and recently severed by Turkey's government due to the Gaza conflict, with Turkey's President Erdogan expressing strong anti-Israel stances, while acknowledging deep historical roots.
The State of Israel and the Republic of Türkiye formally established diplomatic relations in March 1949. Less than a year after the Israeli Declaration of Independence, Turkey recognized Israeli sovereignty, making it the world's first Muslim-majority country to do so.
29 UN member states do not formally recognize Israel: 16 members of the Arab League (Algeria, Comoros, Djibouti, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Somalia, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen); 10 non-Arab members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, ...
You don't need a visa for Türkiye if you have an Israeli passport. You don't need a visa. You can travel to your destination for a limited stay. Be sure to check other entry requirements and how long you can stay for.
Regular demonstrations and protests are currently taking place in Istanbul and other cities across Turkey. Demonstrations may become violent. The police response has included use of tear gas and water cannons. Events in Israel and Palestine have led to heightened tensions in the region and in locations across Turkey.
Although Jews form a very small portion of the Turkish population today, antisemitic sentiment is widespread among modern-day Turks. Public criticism of Israel in Turkey frequently turns into expressions of general antisemitic sentiment.
However, Turkey's neutral stance with regards to the disputes between Israel and Iran has secured the maintenance of friendly bilateral relations. The growing trade between Turkey and Iran indicates the two countries' willingness to strengthen mutual ties.
None! Israel allows tourists from every single nation, even those that do not recognize Israel. Every nationality is allowed to enter Israel, but some need a visa approved in advance. Check out our article on visas to Israel to see which type of visa you'll need for your journey.
Rising costs are pushing visitors to cut trips short—or skip the country altogether according to experts. Inflation—running at around 33% until August 31, 2025—and a strengthening Turkish lira have made vacations far more expensive.
Israel's close friendship with the United States has been a linchpin of its foreign policy since the establishment of the state.
The next day the seven Arab League members, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Transjordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, coordinated a march with their forces into what the previous day had been the area of the British Mandate, marking the start of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.
As of 6 November 2023, Bolivia has severed diplomatic relations with Israel. Likewise, Bolivia is considered the first country among Latin American countries to cut diplomatic ties with Israel.
Votes by modern region
All Western nations voted for the resolution, with the exception of the United Kingdom (the Mandate holder), Greece and Turkey. The Soviet bloc also voted for partition, with the exception of Yugoslavia, which was to be expelled from Cominform the following year.
From time to time, Israel has suggested Turkey to support Hamas, while in other cases it has opposed the support. Under the conservative leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey has become a stalwart supporter of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip.
About the embassy
Shalom! Merhaba! Welcome to the official website of the Embassy of the State of Israel to the Republic of Turkiye.
Turkey joined NATO in 1952, strengthening its bilateral ties with the United States.
Low productivity in the agriculture sector. Agriculture in Turkey employs about 20% of the working population with a very low labor productivity, which translates into limited earnings potential.
I recommend dressing more formally when traveling there, with shoulders and knees covered, a high neckline (no cleavage please), and no transparent or form-hugging clothing. You'll show respect and get more respect in return. Female travellers do not need to cover their hair unless visiting a mosque.
The Holy Land is an excellent travel destination for Muslim visitors; the country is packed with significant Islamic landmarks. The top Muslim attraction in Israel is. The mosque is alluded to in the Koran, as “the Furthest Mosque” and it is Islam's third holiest site.
Syria, Lebanon, and Iran (though not an Arab state) are the only states which actively enforce the primary boycott.
Israeli citizens are prohibited from entering the following countries: Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Yemen. We cannot provide tickets to Israelis for travel to or via these countries.
China and Pakistan have also emerged as friends of Iran; these three countries face similar challenges in the global economy as they industrialize, and consequently find themselves aligned on a number of issues. Iran maintains regular diplomatic and commercial relations with Russia and the former Soviet Republics.
There are already extensive commercial and business ties between the two countries. During the main phase of the Arab–Israeli conflict, Saudi Arabia supported the Arab League against Israel. Likewise, the official Saudi policy towards the Israeli–Palestinian conflict has been supportive of the Palestinian Arabs.