Pyotr Lukimson, Israel. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
Despite official statements of Turkey that there is no improvement in its relations with Israel, everybody understands the ice broke up. The question is whether it is short thaw or future warming of Turkish-Israeli relations.
The first sign was Israel’s readiness to permit shipments of Turkish medical equipment and construction materials for a new hospital in Hamas-controlled Gaza. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to arrive for its opening.
This means an end to the blockade of Gaza (at least for Turkish cargos), i.e. fulfillment of one of three demands of Turkey to Israel for peacemaking. Israel is also ready to fulfill the second demand – to pay compensations to families of people killed in the Mavi Marmara incident. The only condition Turkey has in order to improve ties with Israel is apologies.
The other step made by Israel toward Turkey was readiness to discuss construction of the Leviathan Pipeline last week. It will run through Israeli territorial waters to Turkey. When gas was discovered in the Cyprus and Israel, Turkey expressed dissatisfaction that Israel and Cyprus didn’t want to share “the gas pie.” The pipeline would enable Turkey to settle its energetic problems and give Israel an opportunity to sell it to Europe. It can be a really mutually beneficial deal.
Meanwhile, Turkey made a goodwill gesture and extradited a 29-year-old pimp to Israel last week. He had been hiding in Turkey for 5 years. He had provided women from CIS states for Israel and the Cyprus.
Thus, last week was very productive for Israeli-Turkish relations. At the same time, some Israeli political scientists pay attention to the fact that Turkish politicians continue anti-Israeli rhetoric and doubt that any goodwill gestures can influence Turkey’s course on confrontation with Israel and cooperation with Arab countries.
