The Middle East refers to most of West Asia from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf, except Afghanistan, plus Egypt. The Middle East includes 23 countries, covering an area of about 15 million square kilometers and a population of about 490 million.
The Middle East is an important location, located in the three continents of Asia, Europe and Africa, bordering the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea, connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean, known as the "two oceans, three continents and five seas" land. The world's major shipping routes, the Turkish Strait, the Suez Canal, and the Strait of Hormuz, are all located in the Middle East.
The arid climate, lack of water resources, abundant oil and gas resources, and cultural differences in the Middle East have been turbulent since World War II. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict is one of the main destabilizing factors in the Middle East after World War II. Since the establishment of the State of Israel in the Palestinian territories, relations between Arabs and Jews have been very tense.
After the establishment of the State of Israel, the Arab countries in the Middle East did not recognize Israel, and many Middle East wars broke out with Israel. Therefore, the first Middle Eastern countries to recognize Israel were not Arab countries.
Israel was established in 1948, and Turkey established diplomatic relations with Israel in 1949, recognizing Israel and being the first Middle Eastern country to recognize Israel. Although Turkey is not an Arab country, it shares a common belief with Arab countries. In 1949, after Turkey recognized Israel, some Arab countries even accused Turkey of being a traitor to Islam.
Judging from the current situation in the Middle East, Turkey has always supported Arab countries, sided with Arab countries, Palestinians, condemned Israel, and accused Jews. Turkey and Arab countries share the same beliefs, and during the Ottoman era, the Arabs were under Turkish rule, and the Turks and Arabs were undoubtedly closer than the Jews.
In 1949, during the first Middle East war, the war between the Arab countries and Israel was not over, so why did Turkey recognize Israel so early?
First, move closer to the West. Turkey is a country straddling two continents, Asia and Europe, most of its territory is located in Asia, and the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula is preserved in Europe, guarding the Turkish Strait.
Turkey's geographical location is important, relying on its superior location, now Turkey is at ease in the world, its influence is constantly increasing, its national strength is growing, and it has become a regional power in the eastern Mediterranean region.
Turkey's rapid development is mainly due to the fact that the West and Russia do not want to offend Turkey, so Turkey can reap the benefits of all parties.
In fact, in history, Turkey has almost lost the Turkish Straits. During World War I, the Ottoman Empire joined the German-Austrian camp, and after the defeat, the Allies forced the Ottoman Empire to sign the humiliating Treaty of Sefer.
Under the terms of the Treaty of Sefer, the Arabian regions controlled by Turkey were completely partitioned, and Turkey was to cede Eastern Thrace outside Istanbul and Izmir in the eastern Aegean Sea to Greece. The Turkish Straits area was also stripped and became an international condominium area.
The treaty was extremely harsh, but Greece was not satisfied, and with the support of the Entente, Greece provoked the Greco-Turkish War, tried to seize Istanbul, and completely drove Turkey out of Europe. Turkey, led by Mustafa Kemal, defeated Greece and forced the Allies to abolish the Treaty of Sefer and preserve the Turkish Straits.
During World War I, Turkey joined the German-Austrian camp and nearly lost the important Turkish Strait. This history is still fresh in Turkey's memory, so Turkey has always been very cautious about the international situation. Atatafa Kemal, the founding father of Turkey, once said that if you hesitate in the future in global affairs, remember to stand by Britain.
After World War II, Turkey actively moved closer to the West, and behind Israel were Western countries such as Britain and the United States. In order to show favor to the West, Turkey recognized Israel the year after its establishment.
Second, in order to join NATO. After World War II, the international situation continued to change, forming a pattern of hegemony between the United States and the Soviet Union. After the start of the Cold War, Turkey's position bore the brunt, and the Turkish Strait was an important waterway connecting the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, which was the Soviet sphere of influence, and the Mediterranean Sea was the Western sphere of influence. Turkey is right at a critical point where the two powers clash. Including the recognition of Israel, Turkey made many moves to make Western overtures, and in 1952, Turkey officially joined NATO. Taken together, Turkey became the first Middle Eastern country to recognize Israel.