While discussions about trade ships sent from Turkey during the Gaza attacks were ongoing, it has emerged that the trade volume between the two countries has multiplied eightfold in the last 20 years, Bold Media reported. According to the data, Turkey’s exports to Israel were $861.4 million in 2002 when the AKP came to power, and in 2022, this figure reached $6.74 billion.
BOYCOTT CALLS TO THE PUBLIC
After Israel’s attacks that destroyed Gaza and killed thousands of people, calls for a boycott have been made in Turkey against some products labeled as “Israeli goods.” The boycott targets not only products but also individuals who consume coffee at Starbucks cafes, claiming that the boycott does not address the government that continues all kinds of trade with Israel.
ERDOGAN’S SON’S SHIPS ARE ALSO TRANSPORTING GOODS
In recent days, it has been revealed that the ships owned by AKP President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s son, Burak Erdogan, and AKP member Binali Yildirim’s son, Erkam Yildirim, are still engaged in trade while the Gaza attacks continue. The data shows that trade with Israel has multiplied eightfold between 2002 and 2022, during the AKP’s tenure. However, a decline is observed after the Gaza attacks.
DECLINE AFTER OPERATIONS
According to Euronews Turkish, Turkey-Israel trade volume has multiplied eightfold in the last 20 years. However, in October when the Gaza operations started, exports showed a 29% decrease, and imports showed a 59% decrease compared to the same month of the previous year. Looking at the total from January to October, Turkey’s exports in 2023 decreased by 20%, and imports decreased by 27% compared to the same period in 2022.
EXPORTS FELL TO $348 MILLION IN OCTOBER
According to TUIK’s general trade system data, Turkey’s exports to Israel, which were $489 million in October 2022, fell to $348 million in October 2023. Turkey’s imports from Israel also decreased from $241 million to $99 million during the same period. The import rate in 2023 is the lowest in the last 11 years. However, this situation is not reflected in exports. The trade volume, which was $730 million in October 2022, decreased to $447 million this year. Looking at the total from January to October, exports decreased from $5.85 billion to $4.68 billion in the last year, and imports decreased from $1.93 billion to $1.42 billion. The trade volume, which was $7.78 billion in January-October 2022, decreased to $6.09 billion in 2023.
TRADE INCREASED DESPITE THE MAVI MARMARA INCIDENT
The fact that the trade volume did not decrease after the Mavi Marmara crisis in 2010 indicates that despite political disputes, economic relations remained strong. In 2022, Israel ranked as the 10th country to which Turkey exported the most. While Turkey exports the most to Germany ($21.1 billion), its exports to Israel are at about one-third of that level. Among the countries where Turkey imports the most, Israel ranks 29th.
