Israel, Turkey Plan for Transnational Natural Gas Pipeline

The deal coincides with improving relations between the two countries. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Israel and Turkey discussed the prospect of building a natural gas line that would deliver Israeli fuel to Turkey and the rest of Europe on October 13. After meeting with Turkey’s energy minister, Berat Albayrak, Israel’s energy minister, Yuval Steinitz, announced that Israel “decided to establish a dialogue… to examine the possibility of such a project.” This official discussion between Turkey and Israel is the first between the two countries in 6 years. Previously friendly diplomatic ties were suddenly broken in May 2010 after Israeli marines stormed a Turkish aid ship near Gaza in order to enforce a naval blockade on the Gaza Strip, killing ten activists on board.  

Diplomatic relations were formally re-established in mid-2016. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon named this development a “hopeful signal” for regional stability. It seems that the rapprochement was largely driven by the potential for profitable gas deals and rising security threats throughout the region. These incentives prompted officials in Turkey and Israel to try to reestablish ties for several years. The U.S. government also has pushed for reconciliation.

The deal made in June entailed a compromise between the two states; while the blockade on Gaza remains in place, Turkish humanitarian aid to key hospitals in Gaza continues to be delivered via Israeli ports. Israel argues the blockade is vital for preventing arms flows to the Palestinian Islamist group, Hamas. As an act of reconciliation, Israel paid out $20 million to those affected by the 2010 Israeli attack on the aid ship.

Although the deal was approved by Israeli parliament in June, de facto warming of ties has been somewhat delayed, and the two governments have avoided face-to-face diplomacy for several months. Turkish parliament and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan did not finalize the deal until late August and the Israeli ambassador to Turkey has yet to be officially confirmed. The transnational pipeline discussions mark the first ministerial diplomatic interaction since rapprochement in June.