ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that arms sales, military training, and intelligence sharing have become the leitmotif of Israeli relations with countries around the world. As with all states, the primary purpose of Israeli foreign policy and diplomacy is the promotion of the national interest of the state on the global stage. In accordance with the importance Israel places on security interests, the defense ministry and intelligence agencies lead Israel's foreign policy and diplomacy efforts in determining the nature and scope of Israel's foreign relations. For Israel, foreign policy is determined by the pursuit of interests and not principles. Israel has been more willing than the majority of Western nations to overlook human rights abuses and foster relations with military dictatorships and autocratic regimes. However, Israel's global standing began to falter, following its victory in the Six-Day War of June 1967. Israeli–Turkish relations have always been complicated, oscillating with the dynamics of the Arab–Israeli conflict.
