Turkey 'Closer to Energy Deal With Israel'

Turkey is closer to coming to an agreement over joint energy projects with Israel, according to reports in regional newspapers.

Today's Zaman quotes Turkish officials as stating they are moving towards a positive attitude towards “extensive cooperation” with Israel and Cyprus. Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Energy Minister Taner Yildiz were said to have discussed the issue on Friday at an energy conference in Istanbul. Gul said Turkey is “ready to contribute to any constructive project,” according to the report.

The paper said a rapprochement between Turkey and Israel would allow Ankara to cooperate with Jerusalem on a gas project, and that Yildiz has already begun planning for possible options.

The Israeli and Greek Cypriot administrations began cooperating on energy soon after the American oil company Noble Energy discovered gas around the island of Cyprus. Ankara expects improving ties with Tel Aviv will see Turkey find its place at the negotiation table for even larger-scale energy projects soon.

Efrat Aviv, a researcher at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, told The Jerusalem Post that Turkish media has also indicated that its government is prepared for involvement in projects with Egypt and Lebanon as part of a regional peace policy.

Last month energy minister Yildiz said that a pipeline project with Israel was feasible. Ankara is keen to make the country an energy hub for the region. But Turkey’s ruling party is having to balance sensitivities of families of the victims of a 2010 military operation by Israel on a Gaza-bound flotilla.