Delek Group Eyes Turkey's Upstream

Delek Group intends to take part in gas exploration in Turkey, according to the head of Delek Group energy activities, Yossi Abu. Anadolu Agency, a Turkish news agency, published the statement although Delek has not announced any such plans in a filing to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.

"As a company that is highly experienced in exploration activities in this particular region, we are very happy to invest in Turkey's focused efforts in natural gas exploration and production," Abu was quoted as saying. 

Abu mentioned Israeli gas reservoirs and said that they will supply Turkey with another source of natural gas. He said that for the Leviathan development second phase, the partnership will promote gas deals either with Turkey or with Egypt.

Abu's interview came during the tensest week in Israel-Turkey relations, since the two countries reached a rapprochement to their contentious relations in June last year. The heightened tension and diplomatic sharp exchanges are at best not contributing in promoting gas negotiations between the two countries. Abu's interview is aimed at lowering those tensions.

(Credit: Delek)

The renewed tension was ignited when the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, commented on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. During a meeting with Palestinian officials he "confirmed the necessity of unifying efforts to protect Jerusalem against attempts of Judaisation," according to Ma'an, a news agency.

In a speech in Ankara this week, Erdogan said he supports the "Palestinian struggle against the occupation of Jerusalem", condemned a new Israeli law that forbids Muezzins from calling for prayers through loudspeakers, and called on Muslim citizens to go to Jerusalem.

In response the Israeli foreign ministry, guided by the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, issued a terse response unprecedented in its aggressiveness.  Under the title "Those who systematically violate human rights in their own country should not preach to the only true democracy in the region" the ministry accused Erdogan of human rights violations in his own country.

Ya'acov Zalel