Turkey-Israel: Gaza is not an obstacle for gas

Author: Peter Lyukimson, Israel, exclusively for VK

Economic circles in Israel are actively discussing the statement of the
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey on Economic Issues,
Midhat Rende, that Turkey is interested in buying gas from the newly-discovered fields in the Israeli Mediterranean. Apparently, talks
on the purchase of Israeli gas will begin immediately after the
Israeli military operation in Gaza ends.

Rende made his statement at a Summit on Economy and Energy recently
held in Istanbul. At the summit Rende also made it clear that Turkey
was not going to buy gas from Cyprus.

Israel's Foreign Ministry appreciated the statement of Midhat
Rende. Firstly, Rende has never shown his sympathies for Israel before
and organized a number of anti-Israeli actions in Ankara. Secondly, his
statement was obviously backed up by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan.

Ankara will continue economic cooperation with Israel, despite a
political crisis in relations between the countries. Turkey's
interest in Israeli gas is understandable. Today, Turkey consumes 40
billion cubic meters of gas per year. In the coming years it is
expected that its gas demand will increase by 50%. Today, natural
gas is supplied to Turkey by Russia, Iran and Azerbaijan, but their
supply is not enough, and as a result the Turks are forced to buy more
expensive and extremely liquefied gas from Algeria.

Peter Lyukimson, Israel, exclusively for VK