New reports coming mainly from the Twitter account, "Amihai Stein", give new life to the Turkish-Israeli energy cooperation, after the recent visit of the Israeli Foreign Minister to Ankara.
Senior Turkish officials such as President Erdogan and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu have told Eli Cohen that they are interested in working together on gas issues, citing the fact that they have facilities and we can help you export gas to Europe. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen did not rule it out: "We will look into the issue."
The Turks have been calling for Israel-Turkey gas cooperation for years, also during the Lapid-Bennett administration, which has largely avoided talking about the issue. Now that there is a new government, the Turks are checking whether it will be possible to reach an agreement with Netanyahu.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen in the capital Ankara on Tuesday for talks. According to the Turkish presidency, Erdogan and Cohen held a closed-door meeting at the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency. Israel has been a major force helping Turkey after last week's devastating earthquake that killed tens of thousands and destroyed entire communities.
Earlier on Tuesday, Cohen met with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu and they pledged to continue their efforts to revive trade relations between their two countries. On Wednesday, Reshet Bet Radio revealed that the Turks have proposed that Israel use a pipeline to sell its natural gas to European customers through Turkey.
"We are interested in cooperation in the field of natural gas, at a time when Europe is looking for substitutes for Russian gas," Cavusoglu told his guest, adding: "We have facilities and can help you export natural gas to Europe."
Cohen did not rule it out and replied that the matter would be considered when he returned to Jerusalem.
Turkey first asked to lend its services to sell Israeli gas to Europe when President Isaac Herzog visited Erdogan in March 2022. Herzog passed the message on to the Lapid-Bennett administration, but then- Foreign Minister Yair Lapid was not interested.
If Israel decides in favor of the Turkish option – which Ankara desperately needs, given that its economy is up against the ropes with inflation between 60% and 85%, it is expected to provoke objections and shake the confidence of Israel's traditional allies, Greece and Cyprus, the historical enemies of Turkey.
Competent sources told Vassilis Nedos and "Kathimerini" that during his recent visit to Jerusalem, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias was informed by his Israeli counterpart about Israel's energy planning in the coming period. In any case, the Turkish leaks are indicative of the effort Ankara is making to take advantage of the current situation to advance its old goals, despite the prevailing situation - due to the earthquake - at home.
Israeli natural gas is currently exported from the Eastern Mediterranean to Europe and elsewhere primarily through Egypt. Between Cairo and Jerusalem there is very close cooperation in the field of natural gas, a fact which has been expressed through the participation of the two countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Energy Forum (EMGF). Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Israel, Italy, Jordan and Palestine participate in the EMGF.
Our assessment is that any efforts by Turkey for an energy alliance with Israel and essentially "hostage" of Europe, will not succeed, as Greece is a more stable ally and a more direct "entrance" to Europe and the West.
