The Collapse of Russo-Turkish Relations Draw Ankara Closer to Tel Aviv

Israel and Turkey have come close to bridging a dispute outstanding since 2010, when a Turkish flotilla heading to Gaza was attacked by Israeli forces killing ten Turkish citizens.

Citing an unnamed Israeli source, Reuters suggested on December 17^th that Mossad’s incoming Director, Yossi Cohen, the Israeli envoy, Joseph Ciechanover, and the Turkish foreign ministry under-secretary, Feridun Sinirlioglu, have reached a preliminary agreement during negotiations in Switzerland. Turkey denies the meeting has taken place.

Under the agreement, Israel will compensate the families of the victims of the flotilla raid and Turkey in turn will stop providing refuge to a senior Hamas leader, Saleh Aruri.

The two countries will also negotiate building a natural gas pipeline to transfer Israeli natural gas to Turkey, in cooperation with the Turkish energy conglomerate Zorlu Holding (Zorlu Enerji). President Recep Tayyip Erdogan suggested on December 13 that the normalization of relations between Turkey and Israel was good for the entire region. This followed a visit by Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, concerning the possible transfer of Israeli energy to Turkey.

Russia is a hard partner to replace when it comes to tourism, as it accounts for 40% of Turkey’s clients. However, the collapse of Russo-Turkish relations is bringing Israel closer to Turkey.