Russian internet news service mk-turkey.ru published this article on January 16, 2024, based on data contained on the Turkish internet news site Ekonomim.com as well as appearing to have drawn substantially from a report on the BalkanInsight internet news site.

The original Russian-language report follows [translated by LOC]:

According to official data of the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat), in November 2023, the month after the beginning of Israel’s attack on the Gaza Strip, growth was recorded in the import of Turkish goods by Israel.

Trade relations between the governments were maintained, despite the on-going quarrel because of the Palestinian conflict.

It should be noted that in November 2023, imports decreased, while exports grew. According to data from the economic news agency, Ekonomim.com [Translator note: A Turkish internet news agency meaning ‘My Economy’], the highest ratio of imports/exports between the two countries was recorded this year. Turkish exports to Israel in November comprised $301 million, as imports from Israel rose $128 million, reaching a record imports/exports ratio of 42.4%.

Data show that trade relations between the two states are being maintained at the same time as the Turkish government is criticizing Israel for attacks on the Gaza Strip. Representatives of the opposition have doubted the sincerity of the statements of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan against the Israeli regime and the calls for pro-governmental civil society organizations to activate individual efforts to boycott Israeli business, while maintaining solid trade relations with the country.

Journalist Metin Cihan* reported on December 7 that Turkish companies sent four million tons of goods to Israel on 400 ships during Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip. He also observed that various Turkish companies are still conducting business with Israel, including Koç Holding and Sabancı Holding [Translator note: pronounced Kotch and Sabandzhi] and companies belonging to representatives of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

One of them was the company belonging to the son of former Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, Erkam Yildirim. The Turkish court limited access to publishing on social media networks after the Yildirim family appealed to the court.

President Erdoğan and his family also filed a lawsuit against Cihan for his post, in which it was said that “while the Turkish leader condemned the attacks of Israeli forces on a hospital in Gaza, the company of his son, Burak Erdoğan was loading cargo at an Israeli port.”

In answer to criticism and calls to cease all trade relations with Israel, the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hakan Fidan, declared that the country’s diplomatic and trade relations with Israel do not inflict harm to the “matter of Palestine.”

*According to the BalkanInsight.com story, Cihan is a Turkish investigative reporter who “has been forced to live in exile in Germany due to several ongoing cases and investigations against him in Turkey.” From his X posts, it is clear that he supports Palestine and therefore endeavors to put pressure on Erdoğan to curtail economic ties with Israel.

A map showing the location of Israel in relationship to Türkiye and the Middle Eastern countries that are complicit in efforts to destroy it.