Israel, Turkey set to sign gas cooperation deal

Israel and Turkey are about to sign a deal to cooperate in development of the Leviathan Gas Field of Israel. A pipeline will run from the gas field to Turkey and then Europe.

Gas exports will give an income of about $4 billion a year. Israel will become the main gas supplier of Turkey (55% of Turkey’s gas imports come from Russia, 10% from Azerbaijan and the rest from Iran).

Israel has doubts about signing of the contract, because relations with Turkey are not stable or predictable. If Ankara suddenly decides to scrap the deal two years after its signing, Israel would not have even 10% of the project paid off.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said that such deal will not be possible, unless Israel apologizes for the Mavi Marmara incident.

Israeli company ELTA will provide advanced equipment for Turkish combat jets, as a renewal of the agreement frozen in 2010.

Skeptics say that the equipment will be installed in Boeing jets, so it does not mean rapprochement in the field of military cooperation of Israel and Turkey.

Adapted from Vestnik Kavkaza