Accelerating the pace of Turkish-Israeli normalization; details
In a new sign of Turkey’s push to further normalize relations economically and militarily with Israel, the Turkish frigate TCG Kemal Reis docked in the port of Haifa, in the occupied Palestinian territory, as part of a NATO reconnaissance mission in the Mediterranean, for the first time since relations between Turkey and Israel soured in 2010.
Israeli military correspondent Itay Blumental tweeted: The Turkish frigate arrived with the American missile carrier “Forrest Sherman,” pointing out that the arrival of the Turkish frigate is not an ordinary event, in a big celebration of Turkey’s participation in the NATO mission in Israel.
The arrival of the Turkish frigate in Israeli waters in the occupied Palestinian territories is the latest in a series of moves by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to achieve a “warmer” normalization with Israel.
While Hebrew newspapers said that the Turkish frigate is expected to remain in Israel for several days, The Times of Israel reported that it is not planned for the Turkish frigate to participate in exercises or other events with the Israeli army, noting, according to an army official, that the arrival of the Turkish frigate and the American ship comes as part of “Israel’s cooperation” and support for NATO.
On August 17, the Information Office of Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid announced the full normalization of Turkey’s relations with Israel after the two countries’ ambassadors were expelled alternately in 2018, following the killing of Palestinian demonstrators in Gaza.
The announcement of full normalization of relations between Turkey and Israel comes about six months after an unprecedented warm reception prepared by Erdogan, who has been attacking Israel during his election rallies and described it as a “state of terrorism,” for his Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog, in the beginning of March, in the first visit by an Israeli president in 15 years.
The visit, at the invitation of Erdogan’s unit, brought with it many signs of accelerating Turkish steps to gain Israel’s trust.” Erdogan and Herzog pledged to open a new chapter in the relationship, but Tel Aviv was not enthusiastic then, amid reports of a list of conditions related to reducing Turkish support for the Palestinian Hamas movement.
Despite the Turkish President’s attempts to market his intense hostility to the Israeli occupying Power for purely electoral purposes, economic relations between the two countries have been booming. Trade between Turkey and Israel increased by 30% in 2021 to $7.7 billion, from $4.9 billion in 2020.
While Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu asserted that Turkey “will not abandon the Palestinian cause,” it was clear that Ankara acceded to Israeli conditions aimed at halting Turkish support for the Palestinian Hamas movement, especially after “the deportation of dozens of Hamas associates in various circles” last April, according to the Hebrew website Israel Today.
It is worth mentioning that the Israeli government, along with the Turkish government, are interested in appointing ambassadors before the elections of the “Knesset”, early November, in anticipation of the return of the opposition leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, to power, which is a threat to the chances of reconciliation. In addition, direct flights from Israel to Turkey will resume soon.
