Turkey Israel USAGM
Metadata
- Turkey Israel USAGM
- February 9, 2022
- Content Type Package
- Language English
- Transcript/Script English FOR USAGM SHARE ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: Turkey Israel (TV) HEADLINE: Iran and Energy Issues Drive Turkey-Israel Reset TEASER: Erdogan invites Israeli counterpart to visit, signaling a rapprochement driven by worries over Iran and energy interests. PUBLISHED AT: Wednesday, 02/09/2022 at: 12:50 pm BYLINE: Dorian Jones CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: Istanbul VIDEOGRAPHER: Berke Bas DO NOT USE NAME FOR SECURITY CONCERNS PRODUCER: Marcus Harton SCRIPT EDITORS: LR, BR VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original, AFP, Skype PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO __ TRT: 3:03 VID APPROVED BY: BR TYPE: TVPKG ((EDITORS NOTES: AFP footage of Iran nuclear site No Access PNN UPDATE: DO NOT USE BERKE BAS NAME FOR SECURITY REASONS.)) ((INTRO)) [[After years of deteriorating relations, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is inviting his Israeli counterpart to visit. The invitation signals a rapprochement that observers say is driven by powerful mutual interests, including concerns over Iran’s nuclear program and the future of oil and gas imports from Russia and Iran. For VOA, Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul.]] ((NARRATOR)) A decade-long deep chill in Turkish-Israeli ties has been felt perhaps most deeply here, among Turkey’s small Jewish community. Thousands have left for Israel and Europe in the face of constant attacks by pro-government newspapers alleging Jewish conspiracies. But Turkish President's Recep Tayyip Erdogan's invitation to his Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog, to visit Turkey is seen as part of efforts to break his country’s regional isolation and could, say analysts, lead to a reset. ((RADIO VERSION: Soli Ozel teaches international relations at Kadir Has University in Istanbul.)) ((Soli Ozel, Kadir Has University ((male in English)) ON CAMERA “It turns out that Turkey cannot really continue to be alone, that it cannot have bad relations with almost every country around it. And there is no doubt that the Turkish side is very eager to repair relations, and as I said, more surprisingly for me, the Israelis are also jumping in the field without preconditions.” ((NARRATOR)) In 2018, Turkey withdrew its ambassador and asked Israel's representative to leave in a protest gesture against the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Turkey’s strong backing of the Palestinians, especially hosting Hamas militants in Istanbul, has been a key point of tension. But analysts say Ankara is taking steps to address Israeli concerns. ((RADIO VERSION: Asli Aydintasbas, a senior fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.)) ((Asli Aydintasbas, European Council on Foreign Relations (female in English)) ((Mandatory cg: Skype)) “There have been months of negotiations, more than a year, I would say. And Turkey has already curtailed activities of the more militant wing of Hamas.” ((NARRATOR)) Turkey shares Israel’s concerns that Iran’s nuclear program could be weaponized, and observers say that could provide important common ground. ((RADIO VERSION: That is the view of Gallia Lindenstrauss, an Israeli foreign policy specialist at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv.)) ((Gallia Lindenstrauss, Institute for National Security Studies (Female in English)) ((Mandatory cg: Zoom)) “Of course, also Turkey does not want to see a nuclear Iran. But Iran doesn't threaten Turkey that it will wipe Turkey off the map like it does to Israel. So, it's a different level of threat. But if Israel will relax tensions with Turkey, then there is more room to concentrate on the bigger threat, I think that’s where relaxation of tensions with Turkey can help.” ((NARRATOR)) Erdogan also sees Israel's vast natural gas fields – discovered only in the last few years - as a potential source of cooperation, given Turkey's energy needs. ((RADIO VERSION: Mehmet Ogutcu is an analyst at the London Energy Club, a grouping of government and energy sector leaders.)) ((Mehmet Ogutcu, London Energy Club (male in English)) ((Mandatory cg: Skype)) “Turkey actually needs gas, and I think the Leviathan gas field, which is slated for export, could be an answer to that. It will also improve relations significantly and break Turkish isolation in the East Med.” ((NARRATOR)) Despite years of rising tensions, bilateral trade between Turkey and Israel has continued to boom, and observers see a pragmatic approach as the best chance for a return to a more normal relationship. ((Dorian Jones, for VOA News, Istanbul))
- Transcript/Script FOR USAGM SHARE ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: Turkey Israel (TV) HEADLINE: Iran and Energy Issues Drive Turkey-Israel Reset TEASER: Erdogan invites Israeli counterpart to visit, signaling a rapprochement driven by worries over Iran and energy interests. PUBLISHED AT: Wednesday, 02/09/2022 at: 12:50 pm BYLINE: Dorian Jones CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: Istanbul VIDEOGRAPHER: Berke Bas DO NOT USE NAME FOR SECURITY CONCERNS PRODUCER: Marcus Harton SCRIPT EDITORS: LR, BR VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original, AFP, Skype PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO __ TRT: 3:03 VID APPROVED BY: BR TYPE: TVPKG ((EDITORS NOTES: AFP footage of Iran nuclear site No Access PNN UPDATE: DO NOT USE BERKE BAS NAME FOR SECURITY REASONS.)) ((INTRO)) [[After years of deteriorating relations, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is inviting his Israeli counterpart to visit. The invitation signals a rapprochement that observers say is driven by powerful mutual interests, including concerns over Iran’s nuclear program and the future of oil and gas imports from Russia and Iran. For VOA, Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul.]] ((NARRATOR)) A decade-long deep chill in Turkish-Israeli ties has been felt perhaps most deeply here, among Turkey’s small Jewish community. Thousands have left for Israel and Europe in the face of constant attacks by pro-government newspapers alleging Jewish conspiracies. But Turkish President's Recep Tayyip Erdogan's invitation to his Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog, to visit Turkey is seen as part of efforts to break his country’s regional isolation and could, say analysts, lead to a reset. ((RADIO VERSION: Soli Ozel teaches international relations at Kadir Has University in Istanbul.)) ((Soli Ozel, Kadir Has University ((male in English)) ON CAMERA “It turns out that Turkey cannot really continue to be alone, that it cannot have bad relations with almost every country around it. And there is no doubt that the Turkish side is very eager to repair relations, and as I said, more surprisingly for me, the Israelis are also jumping in the field without preconditions.” ((NARRATOR)) In 2018, Turkey withdrew its ambassador and asked Israel's representative to leave in a protest gesture against the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Turkey’s strong backing of the Palestinians, especially hosting Hamas militants in Istanbul, has been a key point of tension. But analysts say Ankara is taking steps to address Israeli concerns. ((RADIO VERSION: Asli Aydintasbas, a senior fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.)) ((Asli Aydintasbas, European Council on Foreign Relations (female in English)) ((Mandatory cg: Skype)) “There have been months of negotiations, more than a year, I would say. And Turkey has already curtailed activities of the more militant wing of Hamas.” ((NARRATOR)) Turkey shares Israel’s concerns that Iran’s nuclear program could be weaponized, and observers say that could provide important common ground. ((RADIO VERSION: That is the view of Gallia Lindenstrauss, an Israeli foreign policy specialist at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv.)) ((Gallia Lindenstrauss, Institute for National Security Studies (Female in English)) ((Mandatory cg: Zoom)) “Of course, also Turkey does not want to see a nuclear Iran. But Iran doesn't threaten Turkey that it will wipe Turkey off the map like it does to Israel. So, it's a different level of threat. But if Israel will relax tensions with Turkey, then there is more room to concentrate on the bigger threat, I think that’s where relaxation of tensions with Turkey can help.” ((NARRATOR)) Erdogan also sees Israel's vast natural gas fields – discovered only in the last few years - as a potential source of cooperation, given Turkey's energy needs. ((RADIO VERSION: Mehmet Ogutcu is an analyst at the London Energy Club, a grouping of government and energy sector leaders.)) ((Mehmet Ogutcu, London Energy Club (male in English)) ((Mandatory cg: Skype)) “Turkey actually needs gas, and I think the Leviathan gas field, which is slated for export, could be an answer to that. It will also improve relations significantly and break Turkish isolation in the East Med.” ((NARRATOR)) Despite years of rising tensions, bilateral trade between Turkey and Israel has continued to boom, and observers see a pragmatic approach as the best chance for a return to a more normal relationship. ((Dorian Jones, for VOA News, Istanbul))
- NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
- Network VOA
- Embargo Date February 9, 2022 12:50 EST
- Byline Dorian Jones
- Brand / Language Service Voice of America