Independent Turkish journalist Metin Cihan, currently living in exile, shed light on the significant yet controversial aspects of Turkey-Israel trade relations, underscoring Turkey’s role in supplying Azerbaijan-sourced fuel, essential raw materials and a substantial portion of Israel’s electricity and construction needs. “We are sending fuel to Israel, covering their raw material needs, and a Turkish company produces over 7% of Israel’s electricity,” Cihan explained while speaking to Özgürüz TV on Saturday, adding that Turkey also supplies the barbed wire used by Israel.
Diving deeper into the specifics, Cihan revealed, “We deliver oil or crude oil from Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan to Israel without any hindrance,” and “Turkey meets 65% of Israel’s steel requirement,” a critical component in warfare and general construction. The statement that 95% of Israel’s cement, a key construction material, comes from Turkey, was particularly striking, given its use in military and infrastructure projects in occupied territories.
Cihan’s research brought to light the logistical support provided to the Israeli military, including the supply of barbed wire surrounding the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during tensions and in other occupied areas. “Turns out we also supply that,” he noted, uncovering the layers of trade relations that extend into sensitive geopolitical terrains.
His findings, derived from official and public sources including data from the Trade Ministry and the Turkish Statistical Institute, aim to offer a clearer insight into how trade between Turkey and Israel supports the latter’s occupation of Palestinian territories, exposing the Turkish government’s duplicitous policy towards Gaza.
