International News | Turkey Rebuffs Possible Energy Deal With Israel

"It is out of question to proceed on any energy project unless a permanent peace is established, with contribution from all sides and with necessary conditions. A human tragedy unfolded (in Gaza), it is all too easily forgotten."

MONITORING DESK

ISTANBUL: Turkey is doubtful to sign any energy pact with Israel for the development of a gas pipeline to Turkey due to a developing political rift over Israel's Gaza peace agreement, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said yesterday on September 10, 2014.

Ties were extremely incapacitated after a fatal attack by Israeli commandos on Turkish yacht shipping pro- Palestinian activists challenging a Gaza barricade in 2010.

However Israeli firms had all the more as of late held productive discussions with Turkish privately owned businesses and energy authorities as a major aspect of cautious rapprochements.

Addressing media in Ankara Minister Yildiz said, "For energy projects to proceed, the human tragedy in Gaza will have to be stopped and Israel will have to instate a permanent peace there with all elements.”

Minister further added, "It is out of question to proceed on any energy project unless a permanent peace is established, with contribution from all sides and with necessary conditions. A human tragedy unfolded (in Gaza), it is all too easily forgotten."

Additionally, Israel's most recent Gaza attack in July, 2014 that slaughtered around 2,200 individuals undermined those deliberations and incensed President Tayyip Erdogan, who compared Israel's activities to those of Hitler.

Turkey was at one time Israel's closest key partner in the area. However, Erdogan has been a discordant opponent of Israel's approach on the Palestinians and has been exceedingly incredulous of the Jewish state since the Gaza conflicts erupted.

Pro-Palestinian reaction runs high in generally Sunni Muslim Turkey and protestors have over and over taken to the roads in July to exhibit against Israel's hostilities, annoying Israel to lessen diplomatic presence in Turkey.

Israel has transformed into a potential gas exporter overnight with the revelation of Tamar and Leviathan, two of the biggest gas finds in the last decade. Tamar started generation in March 2013, and its accomplices have officially marked various lucrative arrangements in Israel.

Talks between the Leviathan consortium and Turkish partners have seen sluggish advancement throughout this year. A political result has dependably been the condition for a final contract.

The discussions between Israel and Turkey have concentrated on building a 10 billion cubic meter (bcm) sub-ocean pipeline at an expected expense of $2.2 billion, giving Israel access to a chief developing business sector and one of Europe's greatest power markets by 2023.