Many factors push Turkey to fully revive relations with Israel
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Palestinian observers say relations between Turkey and Israel were “not suspended on all levels”. That is not surprising after recession in the last years but it comes within the framework of Ankara to normalize political ties in addition to economic issues with Israel.
Last week, Israel and Turkey fully restored diplomatic ties and the two ambassadors and consuls returned to each other’s country after years of rift.
Observers on Palestinian affair say the channels have always been open, what lately has taken place crowned the zero troubles policy that was lately adopted by Turkey.
The relations between Turkey and Israel deteriorated in 2010 after the Gaza flotilla raid on the shores of Israel that led to the cut off relations that lasted nearly for a decade.
Early in 2022 relations began to improve as two country’s officials exchanged visits the most notable was the formal visit paid by the Israeli President Isaac Herzog to Turkey where he met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in March.
Office of the Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid announced on August 17, “Turkey and Israel fully resumed their relations and restored ambassadors and consuls to both countries”.
Researcher in international relations and politics, Dr. Mansur Abu Karim said that, the Turkish-Israeli relation are undoubtedly deeply rooted and old after tension due to the Gaza flotilla raid nearly a decade ago. However they were never fully halted.
The Palestinian researcher told North Press these relations have returned to its previous status within the zero troubles by Turkey with regional countries.
Abu Karim said, “It is an attempt to repair such relations after the big recession following Turkey’s crises with European and east Mediterranean countries due to its former policies.
Economy
Ankara seeks regional transactions amid sharp dispute about the Mediterranean gas, according to the Palestinian writer Hassan Lafi who told North Press about economic factors relating Turkey and other projects relevant to transporting the Mediterranean gas to Europe.
In order not to lose sharing in the Mediterranean gas, Turkey headed towards Israel to “regain relations to be part of a series of companies,” according to Lafi.
The writer noted to the devaluation of the Turkish lira and the economic repression in the country which led Turkey to regain ties with Arab counties which normalized ties with Israel to revive economically.
Lafi believes the return of Turkey to its former position and its allies passes through Tel Aviv.
In addition to this, there is another hot issue regarding the Syrian crisis that creates a mutual understanding between the two sides on Syria, according to the writer.
Recently, statements were made by Turkish officials calling for reconciliation between Syrian government and opposition, in addition to debates of holding a meeting between Turkish and Syrian officials.
Reversals
In the last two years, Turkey embarked upon restoring its relations with most of the Arab countries from which it distanced following a rift and propaganda war such as the one with UAE and Saudi Arabia which were restored in the last two years.
Turkey sought to alleviate escalation with Egypt following years of its support for the Muslim Brotherhood and encouragement to control Egypt 11 years ago.
In a period of economic repression and the devaluation of the Turkish currency, the Turkish president sought to repair his country’s relations with Saudi Arabia and Arab powers in bid to reorganize the elations and consolidate the dilapidating economy before the presidential elections scheduled for next year.
In April, Erdogan visited Saudi Arabia after long years of disputes.
The improving relations with the UAE benefitted Turkey by billions of USDs that encouraged Turkey to do the same with Saudi Arabia where the Khashoggi file was closed and handed over to Saudi Arabia early in April.
Political Islam shows no position
As Hamas up to date maintains its usual position as it was condemning the Israeli normalization with Arab countries, “This position is normal for Political Islam movements in Palestine,” said Abu Karim.
Abu Karim indicated, “It is well known that such movements prefer political interest to principles. It wants to keep its relations with Turkey as the latter is part of a Qatari-Turkish axis.”
So Hamas’s “not condemning” is normal due to its investments in Turkey and under the agreement between Erdogan and the Muslim Movement.
The full normalization between Turkey and Israel followed two rounds of war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas in May 2021 and the Jihadist Islam two weeks ago.
On August 1, Israel restored its diplomatic representation in Istanbul after it was reduced in 2019.
Late in May, Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlut Cavusoglu visited Israel, where both parties agreed to boost economic cooperation.