Yesterday, the Turkish Ministry of Trade distributed a directive to exporters of construction materials to Israel allowing them to resume trade for a period of three months, despite the comprehensive ban announced by Turkey on exports to Israel. But reports in the Israeli press and media, as well as a strongly worded announcement by Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz, led to the easing being cancelled.
Referring to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Katz said, “Erdogan retreated and abolished many restrictions on trade, and the lesson is clear: There must be no surrender to the dictator’s threats, and we must create alternatives and not surrender.” “It depends on someone from the Muslim Brotherhood who can stop everything at any moment.”
Such an official statement forced the Turks to respond. Turkish Trade Minister Omer Polat said on social media, “The Israeli Foreign Minister’s statements are completely imaginary and have no relation to reality. We stand behind the decision we took as a government regarding trade with Israel. This decision is still in effect.” Media platform X
Polat said that the decision will remain in effect until “the necessary conditions are achieved to stop Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, achieve a permanent ceasefire, and ensure the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid.”
It is important to realize that the decision to stop trade between Turkey and Israel stems from purely political considerations, and concern in the ruling Justice and Development Party after its poor performance in the recent local elections. The two main opposition parties, the left-wing Republican People's Party and the Islamist New Welfare Party, have long called for a ban on trade with Israel. Under the Turkish constitution, Erdogan is in his final term as president, but it is not clear whether his successor, whatever party he belongs to, will be more pro-Israel.
The Turkish Communications Directorate, headed by Fahrettin Altun, who is close to Erdogan, described Katz’s statement and reports in the Israeli media about easing the trade embargo as fake news. Both sides are well aware that the Turkish Ministry of Trade circulated the document in a way that allows room for maneuver.
The result is that no fundamental change has occurred on the ground. It is possible that if Israel allows Erdogan, Polat and their people room to maneuver, there will be change. Meanwhile, goods are moving from Turkey to Israel, albeit in much smaller quantities than before, either via third countries, or on ships that turn off their position reporting system until they are already heading west again from Israel. Turkish exporters will be very happy if trade returns to previous levels, so yesterday's events may not be the end of the story.
Published by Globes, Israel Business News – en.globes.co.il – on May 10, 2024.
© Copyright Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd., 2024.
