The Turks in Israel (Turkish: İsrail'deki Türkler), also referred to as Israeli Turkmen are ethnic Turkish descendants who have had a long-established presence in the region. Migration of Turkish settlers to the Levant began in the 12th century, and continued throughout the Mamluk and Ottoman rule. In the early 2000s, Turkish workers from the Republic of Turkey settled in Israel, working predominantly on construction projects.