Turkey calls for arms embargo on Israel, tightens export ban

Turkey Calls for Halting Weapons Shipments to Israel: Turkey submitted a letter — cosigned by 52 countries, among them Russia, China, Iran and Saudi Arabia — to the United Nations calling for a complete arms embargo on Israel on November 3. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has described a ban on weapons shipments to Israel as an ‘effective solution’ for ending the war in Gaza.

 

Turkey Moves to Close Export Loopholes: Since Turkey ceased all exports to Israel in May, 2024, Turkish exporters have managed to continue their shipments through intermediaries in both Greece and by shipping through Palestinian Authority-controlled areas first. A three step process has been implemented to close this loophole and create stricter governmental oversight of export shipments. On Monday, President Erdogan proucdly calimed that all exports had been ceased to Israel.

 

Turkey Continues to Put International Pressure on Israel: In 2023, Turkish exports to Israel were down from $7 billion the previous year to $5.43 billon. A complete halt in exports was implemented earlier this year, with loopholes now being tightened. Announcing the letter to the UN calling for an arms embargo, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that the provision of weapons to Israel “means participating in its genocide.”

FDD Expert Response

“Erdogan has been playing a double game since Turkey announced a trade embargo with Israel. Certain transactions between Israel and Turkey that enrich allies of the president have been allowed to continue, maintaining a revenue stream for key government officials and AKP party members. The new policy enforcement still allows Turkey’s Ministry of Trade to approve transactions while President Erdogan rhetorically attacks Israel.” — Tyler Stapleton, Director of Congressional Relations at FDD Action

 

“Turkey’s letter will find a receptive home among the non-democratic countries that dominate the United Nations. These autocracies have used the assembly to gang up on democracies such as Israel. Under the guise of defending international law and human rights, the Turkish letter is taking advantage of the United Nations’ structural anti-Israel bias to deprive the Jewish state of its right to self-defense.” — David May, FDD Research Manager and Senior Research Analyst

 

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Published By: Atilla Yeşilada

GlobalSource Partners’ Turkey Country Analyst Atilla Yesilada is the country’s leading political analyst and commentator. He is known throughout the finance and political science world for his thorough and outspoken coverage of Turkey’s political and financial developments. In addition to his extensive writing schedule, he is often called upon to provide his political expertise on major radio and television channels. Based in Istanbul, Atilla is co-founder of the information platform Istanbul Analytics and is one of GlobalSource’s local partners in Turkey. In addition to his consulting work and speaking engagements throughout the US, Europe and the Middle East, he writes regular columns for Turkey’s leading financial websites VATAN and www.paraanaliz.com and has contributed to the financial daily Referans and the liberal daily Radikal.