Turkey says the ban will remain in effect until Israel agrees to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
For years, Israel and Turkey have been essential trading partners.
It was a business relationship worth nearly seven billion dollars a year. But Israel’s war on Gaza changed all that.
The Turkish government is demanding an end to the violence which has killed nearly 35,000 Palestinians in seven months.
And the Turkish president condemned Israel’s decision to block aid to Gaza last month. Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced a total ban on trade until Israel agrees to a ceasefire.
But did he act under domestic pressure, after the local election setback was blamed in part on the country’s continued doing business with Israel? And what impact will this have on the economies of both parties?
Presenter: Neave Barker
Guests:
Vehbi Baysan – Political analyst and assistant professor at Ibn Haldun University
Gideon Levy – Author and columnist at Haaretz
Vladimir Vano – chief economist of the international think tank GLOBSEC
