Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday defined Israel as "a terrorist state" and condemned U.S. President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. By repeatedly hitting out at Israel Erdoğan may be catering to his voter base but it is meaningless after all the fund relations like million dollars worth accords, armour dealings and natural gas trade.
Why? Let’s remember Turkey and Israel's up-and-down but continuous relationship step by step through close history:
'BLOOD MONEY' DEAL
Erdoğan’s "terrorist state" Israel and Justice and Development Party (AKP) government's relationship was crowned when Israel paid "blood money" for those who lost their lives in Mavi Marmara case and Turkey dropping the Israeli soldiers' charges who were on trial in Turkey.
AKP government which took 20 million dollars in return did not give the money to the victims' families, but appropriated the money. After the reactions they got, Turkish Ministry of Finance had stated that they would convey the money to the victims’ families.
ERDOĞAN: 'DID YOU ASK MY PERMISSION?'
About a year ago, it is still being remembered that Erdoğan back-pedaled by saying "Did you take the permission of the-then Prime Minister?" about the victims of Mavi Marmara attack. Forgetting that he had said "We gave the permission" 2 years before this statement got reactions even from Humanitarian Relief Foundation (İHH).
SELLING NATURAL GAS TO EUROPEAN MARKETS
As for the agreements between Turkey and Israel, according to known data, around 60 military and economical large and small scaled agreements worth over 1 billion dollars. Turkey gave up the request of the removal of the blockade in Gaza. In return, a relationship has been developed in which Turkey buys natural gas from Israel and sells it to European markets.
ARMS DEALINGS
Turkey's Machinery and Chemical Industry Institution (MKE) opened a transportation bid for 31 thousand 500 pieces to be picked up from Israel. Head of the International Defense Cooperation Directorate of the Israel Ministry of Defense (SIBAT) General Aiveli stated: "Arms export to Turkey has reduced to zero point".
OIL SHIPMENT
It came to light that Israel imported 19 billion barrels of oil from Iraqi Kurdistan. It has been identified that Iraqi Kurdistan was exporting one of three of its oil shipment to Israel and Ceyhan in Adana, Turkey was the distribution port of the oil going to Israel.
So what does Erdoğan’s statement suggest? He still might be trying to clear his reputation amongst Islamic countries, and one can just look at the relations of the two countries to understand that this breakthrough will not be effecting the million dollar agreements and investments.
