Turkey has decided to take direct economic action against Israel in a notable shift from its primarily diplomatic anti-Israel stance. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has previously targeted Israel in diplomatic forums, but his latest moves include removing Israel from Turkey’s export destination list, Hebrew media reported on Sunday.
Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas on October 7, Turkey’s anti-Israel efforts have been focused on diplomacy, with President Erdogan frequently criticizing Israel. However, recent developments have gone beyond just words, with Turkey actively influencing trade between the two countries.
The key implication of this decision is that Turkey will end trade subsidies and withdraw support for companies doing business with Israel. Moreover, it sends a clear message to Turkish business owners that they will not receive state support if they choose to trade with Israel.
The strategic move comes as Israel was placed 13th on Turkey’s export list for 2023, despite the effects of the war, accounting for $5.42 billion in goods, or about 2.1 percent of total exports. This marks a notable drop from $7 billion in exports in 2022. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (right) and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh shake hands during a meeting at the Turkish parliament in Ankara on January 3, 2012 (Courtesy of REUTERS/Stringer) Contrary to Erdogan’s anti-Israel policies, Turkey has sent 701 ships to Israel since October 7, averaging about eight per day, according to official data from the Turkish Ministry of Transportation. Of these, 480 ships followed the Turkish-Israeli route, while the remaining 221 stopped in Turkey on their way to the ports of Haifa or Ashdod.
Erdogan’s anti-Israel remarks
The economic policy decision comes after President Erdogan expressed a strong anti-Israel stance, including explicitly supporting Hamas and condemning Israeli war crimes. Turkey’s role as a haven for Hamas leaders, as well as recent incidents such as the detention of Israeli football player Eden Kartsev and the deportation of Sagiv Yehezkel, are indicators of rising tensions between the two countries.
