Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are expected to hold a meeting in the coming month
to work towards improving the historically strained relations between their
countries.
اضافة اعلان
Recent developments in tourism, business collaboration, and
the potential for gas shipments have paved the way for a thaw in the
long-standing frosty relationship, Bloomberg reported.
The disruption caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and
Iran's activities in the region are additional factors incentivizing the
leaders to seek reconciliation.
Turkey's growing concerns over Iran's increasing influence
in Syria, particularly its support for groups hostile to Israel such as
Hezbollah, have prompted a reevaluation of its relationship with Israel.
Similarly, Azerbaijan's successful reclaiming of occupied
territories with the help of Israeli and Turkish drones has underscored the
importance of strengthening regional ties.
Both Israel and Turkey are actively seeking improved
relations with other Middle Eastern nations, with
Israel having established diplomatic ties with the UAE and Morocco in 2020 and Turkey having restored its
relationship with Saudi Arabia.
Domestic pressures, economic revamp create urgency for
meeting
Both Erdogan and Netanyahu face significant domestic
pressures that add urgency to the potential meeting.
Netanyahu has encountered mass protests in response to his
attempts to weaken the judiciary's power, while Erdogan has undertaken economic
reforms following his recent re-election to address the cost-of-living crisis.
Schedules permitting, the leaders are expected to convene in
Ankara in July.
Gas export agreement and trade growth
Discussions between Erdogan and Netanyahu may revolve around
the possibility of exporting liquefied natural gas from a field off the Gaza
Strip to Europe via Turkey.
However, the feasibility of this endeavor remains uncertain
due to the absence of substantial gas reserves and the lack of necessary
infrastructure such as LNG export terminals and gas pipelines. Nevertheless, a
potential gas agreement could contribute to bridging the divide between the two
nations.
Bilateral trade between Turkey and
Israel has already seen an 11 percent increase, with Turkish exports to Israel reaching $7 billion last
year, while imports stood at approximately $2.5 billion.
Ongoing divisions
Despite the efforts to improve relations, fundamental
disagreements persist between Turkey and Israel. Disputes over the status of
Palestinian territories continue to divide the two nations. Israel also accuses
Turkey of supporting Hamas.
Despite lingering divisions,
Turkey and Israel are
experiencing a notable increase in bilateral trade and tourism.
The resumption of cruise lines and the introduction of
direct flights from Israeli companies to Turkish resorts like Antalya and
Bodrum have contributed to a booming tourism industry. It is projected that
over 1 million Israeli tourists will visit Turkey this year, compared to
843,000 in 2022.
Both the Turkish government and Israel's embassy in Ankara
have refrained from commenting on the potential meeting and its objectives.
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