Erdogan calls Herzog.. What are the implications of the Turkish-Israeli rapprochement?

Considered Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan His country’s relations with “Israel” are important to the stability of the Middle East, in a phone call, today, Thursday, with the head of the Israeli occupation authority Isaac Herzog.

A spokesman for the President of Israel said, in a statement, that “Herzog thanked his Turkish counterpart for… The release of the Israeli couple The two were arrested nine days ago on charges of espionage, after they filmed Erdogan’s palace in Istanbul“.

He added that Erdogan stressed the importance he attaches to relations with “Israel”, and considered them “of major importance to peace, stability and security in the Middle East, and also stressed the need to reduce differences between the two parties.”

Bennett: Channels of communication between Turkey and “Israel” operate discreetly in times of crisis

In turn, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, hours after the Okenin couple was released from detention in Istanbul and returned to Israel.

Bennett’s office published a statement, noting that “the prime minister thanked the Turkish president for his personal intervention in the return of the couple.” Bennett also expressed his “appreciation for the Turkish side’s handling of the issue, at all levels, in recent days, with the aim of bringing the issue to a solution.”

According to the statement, during the conversation, the first between the two, Bennett referred “to the channels of communication between the two parties, which operate efficiently and discreetly in times of crisis.”

Ankara wants a new kind of “balance” in the region through “Tel Aviv”

What is remarkable about Erdogan’s speech to Herzog is his timing, which coincides with regional movements, andIts center is Syria, where the Arab moves to reconcile with it. After the Turkish president’s efforts to reconcile with Cairo and Riyadh failed, and his phone call to Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed did not achieve its desired goals, at least so far, it seems that Ankara wants its new dialogue with “Tel Aviv” to achieve a new kind of “balance.” in the region.

This comes after “Israel” penetrated a number of the region’s main regimes, through normalization agreements, led by the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan, and after reconciliation with Egypt, Jordan and the Sultanate of Oman, while Israeli media talked about a possible Israeli role in the next stage in Libya, through The relationship with multiple parties, including Khalifa Haftar Saif al-Islam Gaddafi.

Erdogan, who had previously called Herzog on July 12 to congratulate him on his election as president of “Israel”, assured his Israeli counterpart “the importance and necessity of re-establishing a culture of peace, tolerance and coexistence in the region,” adding that “if we act within the framework of mutual understanding.” We will be able to overcome the differences in our views on bilateral and regional issues,” considering that “the continuation of dialogue between Israel and Turkey is in the interest of both parties.”

What is the impact of the economic aspect on Turkish-Israeli relations?

It is noteworthy that after a dispute that lasted for six years, due to the Israeli attack on the Turkish “Freedom Fleet” in May 2010, the two sides normalized their relations in June 2016. During the six years, harsh mutual accusations ended with the signing of the agreement that returned the two sides to a truce that did not last. long.

However, when talking about Turkish-Israeli relations, the economic, commercial and tourism aspects cannot be overlooked, and the role of each of them in strengthening those relations, especially when it comes to major international projects related to the field of energy. In addition, cooperation, in the security and military fields, is considered an essential pillar in the relations between the two parties.

Politics has an open side, but the economy and trade are different. There are Turkish-Israeli economic relations with special significance. These relations, in their commercial and military aspects, have not witnessed any decline or impact.

For example, Turkey is the first country to export cement and iron to “Israel”, and it exported one million tons of cement during 2017. Also, “Tel Aviv” imported 9.8 million tons of cement from Turkey, out of 16.9 million tons, the total of what it imported During the last 15 years, that is 59% of all it imports.

Expectations to appoint a new Turkish ambassador to “Tel Aviv”

The possible Turkish openness to “Israel”, if achieved, aims, at the same time, to block the way for the Greek alliance and the Cyprus alliance with each of “Tel Aviv” and Cairo. This hinders Ankara’s projects and plans, with regard to gas and oil accounts in the vicinity of the island of Cyprus, of which Turkey has controlled 36% of its area since 1974.

Information indicated that a new Turkish ambassador will be appointed in “Tel Aviv” soon, with the possibility of exchanging visits at the level of foreign ministers, to help Erdogan win the affection of the Jewish lobby organizations in Washington, which he desperately needs to put pressure on the Biden administration, so that everyone knows his positions. Negativity towards the Turkish president and his regional and international policies, in addition to his anti-democratic domestic policies, as he put it.