Turkey-Israel rapprochement: who will win the billions? |
“Israel is currently committing genocide. “As long as I am in this position, I will never be able to think anything positive about Israel.”
These words Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan On July 18, 2014, he said in a statement to the local press…
It’s been 4 years. These days, the normalization of relations between the two countries and the mutual reopening of embassies have come up. On August 17, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey said this Born Çavuşoğlu made a statement.
It should be noted that the two sides recalled their ambassadors twice before, and after some time diplomatic relations were restored. After Erdogan’s “one minute” reaction to Israeli President Shimon Peres in Davos and the “Blue Marble” incident, 2010-in Turkey He recalled his ambassador to Israel. After some time, an official apology from Tel Aviv softened the relationship, and in June 2016, diplomatic agencies resumed their activities. However 2018After the killing of 60 Palestinians in Jerusalem rallies Turkey he called back his ambassador in Tel Aviv again. After 4 years, the parties are expected to appoint mutual ambassadors again these days.
Interesting, the end 20 Why did the two countries, which are experiencing successive diplomatic scandals that resonate in the world press several times a year, such as “Terrorist”, “One minute”, “Chair”, “Blue Marmara”, “Jerusalem” events, decided to cooperate now?
Let’s start with the fact that Turkey has decided to correct its relations not only with Israel, but with all the countries of the region. The reason for the sharp U-turn observed in Ankara’s Eastern Mediterranean, Middle East and Gulf diplomacy is to prevent the gradual isolation of the brotherly country in these regions, not to be left out of large-scale projects planned in the region, and to protect its place in the balance of forces as a geopolitical player. In this way, Turkey aims to bring its tense relations with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Israel, and even Syria to the ground of mutual cooperation.
In particular, to normalize relations with Israel Erdogan he could not have found a better opportunity. Now Benjamin Netanyahu and Shimon Peres, who were distinguished by their strong nationalist position, are not in power. It is no coincidence that for the first time in many years, on March 9 of this year, the new president of Israel, Isaac Herzog, made an official visit to Turkey.
Although the government has changed, Israel’s approach to the issue of Jerusalem and Palestine has not changed. Changing Turkey national approach to matters of interest and political is a strategy. Turkey, which takes a conciliatory line instead of harsh, threatening diplomacy, is “natural” at the bottom of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea gas In order to take its share of the cake, it intends to improve its relations with all countries of the region, especially Israel.
Geopolitical conditions make Jews and Turks reconcile.
On June 14 this year Europe Council Chairman Ursula Von der Leyen to Israel together with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi trip did In our opinion, it is necessary to look for the reason why the relations between Turkey and Israel suddenly changed from tension to cooperation. So Leyen trip said in a press release later that the goal of Europe from Russia gas is to end the addiction. He from Israel to Italy gas gave detailed information about the transportation project. Then the Italian newspaper “La Reppublica” published an article based on information obtained from government sources. It was mentioned here that it is possible to transport the gas reserves of the Eastern Mediterranean to Europe in three ways. The first route Israel-Cyprus-Greece waythat is, the “EastMed” project (Remember that Turkey is involved in this project protest and clearly stated that he will not allow it to happen). This project cannot be completed in a few years. Because the length of the pipeline planned to be built under the sea is 1900 km, which means a huge cost and loss of time. According to the claim of the Italian publication, the other way is the transportation of liquefied gas through Egypt Europe not profitable for Because liquefied gas is much more expensive than natural gas. The most optimal way is Turkey, which is already considered the center of the Southern Gas Corridor project. By choosing this route, both costs and distance can be significantly shortened.
At a time when Russia is occupying Ukraine and using natural gas as a mechanism of influence on Europe, Turkey and Israel transporting natural gas from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea to Europe is harmful both to these countries and USA-a, as well Europe is beneficial to their countries.
Thus, the normalization of Turkish-Israeli relations can be interpreted not as official Ankara or Tel Aviv taking a step back, but as a change in the current geopolitical conjuncture and a reconciliation of the interests of these states.
It should also be noted that the trade turnover between Turkey and Israel is increasing, regardless of the level of tension. 2020Trade turnover between the two countries in 6.2 billion dollars has been In 2021, this figure increased sharply and reached 8.4 billion. Turkey’s exports to Israel increased by 35% in the same year, 6.4 billion dollars has been These numbers suggest that Israel and Turkey are countries that benefit not from mutual enmity, but from cooperation.