Commercial presentation Update: 3/05/2024 19:13
Issued by: 05/03/2024, 19:13
Tel Aviv/Ankara – Israel will start looking for new foreign suppliers after the decision of the Turkish government to stop mutual trade. The choice could fall on friendly countries such as Germany, the Czech Republic, Britain, Greece or Hungary, writes the Ynet server. Last year, Turkish exports to Israel amounted to over five billion dollars (120 billion crowns).
Turkey wants to force Israel to a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip with its move, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said today. The Israeli army is continuing its retaliatory operation against the Palestinian movement Hamas, which launched a terrorist attack in the south of Israel last October, in which 1,200 people lost their lives. The suspension of trade with Israel was announced by Ankara on Thursday, citing the “worsening humanitarian tragedy” in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli government officials are now trying to understand what effects the move could have on the Israeli economy. Israel bought fuel, machinery, cars and medical equipment from Turkey, writes the Ynet server. On Thursday, the head of Israeli diplomacy Yisrael Kac said that his country will respond to the situation by looking for new suppliers abroad. According to one representative of the Israeli Ministry of Economy, quoted by the Ynet server, “friendly countries such as Germany, Britain, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Greece” are being considered.
Foreign trade between Turkey and Israel was about $6.7 billion last year, according to the Turkish Statistical Office.
Today, Turkish President Erdogan commented on the trade freeze. “We have taken certain measures to force Israel to accept a ceasefire and increase the volume of humanitarian aid (to the Gaza Strip),” he said during a meeting with businessmen. According to him, the Turkish authorities will monitor compliance with the ban.
It is not entirely clear under what conditions Turkey could resume trade with Israel. Signals are coming from Israel that Turkey has violated mutual trust in the economic field with its action. The head of Israeli diplomacy, Kac, said that Erdogan behaves like a tyrant who does not care about the interests of people and businessmen. In recent months, Erdogan has sharply criticized Israel for its offensive in the Gaza Strip, which according to the Hamas-controlled Palestinian Authority has cost the lives of more than 34,000 Palestinians. On the contrary, Hamas Erdogan called a liberation movement.
Palestine Israel Turkey trade struggle diplomacy PHOTO
