Reframing Egypt-Israel Relations: A Constructivist Perspective on the Nasser and Sadat Eras

Authors : Sevim Börklüce, Ayşe Ömür Atmaca

Pages : 145-166

View : 41 | Download : 107

Publication Date : 2024-12-26

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :One of the most significant consequences of the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 was the advent of the Arab-Israeli conflict in the region. Palestine, which was already home to an Arab population, became the focus of Israeli settlements, which incited hatred and anger among the Arab states in general. The perception of Israel as the primary adversary of the Arab states reached its zenith following the Suez Crisis of 1956. This event propelled Gamal Abdel Nasser to the forefront of the Arab world as a charismatic leader, thereby giving rise to the pan-Arab ideology of the late 1950s and 1960s. Nasser became the epitome of the struggle against the imperialist West and its extension, Israel, in the Middle East. However, Anwar Sadat, who succeeded Nasser, placed Egyptian interests above those of the Arab states, thereby making Egypt the first Arab country to recognise Israel as a state. Egypt’s foreign policy towards Israel underwent a significant transformation, shifting from a pan-Arab nationalist stance to one that prioritised Egyptian interests. This article explores the underlying factors that shaped this political shift, drawing upon the principles of social constructivism and the concept of identity. Through an analysis of the foreign policy actions and discourse of key leaders, it posits that the Egyptian state identity evolved from Nasser to Sadat, with this transition being shaped by a complex interplay of domestic and international factors.
Keywords : Mısır, İsrail, devlet kimliği, dış politika, İnşacılık