Trade with Israel and Freedom of the Press

In the March 31 local elections, one of the issues that exerted pressure on the government was its trade relations with Israel. Political parties, particularly the Yeniden Refah Party, propagated that military equipment and supplies were being sold to Israel, alleging that the government was contributing to a conflict in which Israel had caused the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians. It can be argued that this propaganda resonated with the AKP's base and served as one of the factors dissuading AKP supporters from participating in the polls. Additionally, on the day preceding the election, an individual was detained for displaying a banner reading "Stop trade with Israel" at Erdoğan's Sultanbeyli rally.^[2] Furthermore, Trade Minister Ömer Bolat asserted before the election that those raising this issue were supported by the Mossad, stating: "The persistent efforts to implicate the government in accusations of trading with Israel, among other things, are orchestrated by certain fringe political elements and the terrorist organizations you mentioned, aimed at undermining and discrediting the government through fake accounts... This is particularly bolstered by Israeli intelligence."

After journalist Metin Cihan shared data obtained from open sources, the debate intensified further.^[3] In his Eid message, Erdoğan reiterated his commitment to standing with the people of Gaza and called on those spreading falsehoods against their own state to use reason and conscience.^[4] The Center for Combating Disinformation under the Communications Directorate also asserted that the purported sale of jet fuel involved "only jet fuel purchased for Israeli civilian aircraft at airports within Turkish territory." ^[5] However, sometime later, the Ministry of Trade announced its decision to impose export restrictions on Israel. The restricted products include construction materials, chemical products, steel and aluminum products, and various others, including aviation fuel and jet fuel, which were previously allowed for trade.^[6]

The debate on this issue did not conclude naturally with the imposition of trade restrictions. A dispute arose between journalist Metin Cihan and former Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank. Cihan shared photos with the public showing Varank visiting a company that exports shotgun spare parts and components to Israel.^[7] In response, Varank stated that he had visited numerous factories of this nature during his tenure as Industry Minister and accused Cihan of being "an immoral, deceitful informant who lacks the courage to reside in Turkey."^[8]

The AKP government has attempted to conceal the issue of trade with Israel from the public, employing tactics similar to those used for various other contentious issues. Journalists and politicians who brought attention to this matter were marginalized and accused of being agents of foreign powers. However, the information eventually surfaced publicly, likely exacerbated by the AKP's defeat in the local elections, prompting a backtrack on this issue.

In this context, the significance of freedom of the press should once again be underscored. Safeguarding press freedom is essential for ensuring governmental accountability. Journalists and independent media outlets play crucial roles in enlightening the public and holding governments accountable for their actions. As evidenced in this case, attempts to intimidate journalists through menacing remarks undermine democratic processes and hinder the public's access to information. It must be emphasized that without a free and independent press, the public cannot be properly informed, and the healthy functioning of democracy is compromised.

1 AYM, E.2021/28, K.2024/11, 18/01/2024, karara şuradan erişilebilir: https://normkararlarbilgibankasi.anayasa.gov.tr/ND/2024/11

² https://medyascope.tv/2024/03/30/erdoganin-sultanbeyli-mitinginde-israille-ticareti-kes-pankarti-actigi-icin-gozaltina-alinan-genc-konustu-ikiyuzlulugu-ifsa-ediyoruz-dualar-filistine-ama-cepl/

³ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sitfU42GXbI

⁴ https://www.sozcu.com.tr/erdogan-dan-israil-le-ticaret-elestirilerine-sert-yanit-p38591

⁵ https://www.politikyol.com/iletisim-baskanligindan-israile-jet-yakiti-yalanlamasi-turkiyedeki-havalimanlarinda-israile-ait-sivil-ucaklara-satilan-yakittir/

⁶https://twitter.com/ticaret/status/1777577177489305889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1777577177489305889%7Ctwgr%5E6690d1712dbdfce9e6d7f08f98855fc0ec1d9887%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tr724.com%2Faciga-cikan-gercek-ve-akp-utanmazligi%2F

⁷ https://x.com/metcihan/status/1780477690400674130

⁸https://twitter.com/varank/status/1780493093445177499?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1780493093445177499%7Ctwgr%5Eabd9ee6e0dad3a78189e17bc67f120fd5fe27fa1%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftr.euronews.com%2F2024%2F04%2F17%2Fgazeteci-metin-cihan-ve-eski-bakan-varank-arasinda-israile-silah-satisi-tartismasi