The Making of the Alignment

Abstract

Politicians, journalists, and scholars alike have referred to the relationship between Turkey and Israel in various terms, such as alliance, alignment, entente, rapprochement, cooperation, strategic partnership and agreement.¹ This multiplicity of names indicates that it was not clearly defined, unlike the Saadabad and Baghdad Pacts, but was something more fluid or amorphous. In fact, its designers probably wanted it to appear ambiguous, to be both an alliance, capable of deterring hostile organizations and countries, and a simple agreement that would not antagonize others. Whatever the title, all agreed that it was a major strategic development in the region.