Questions on Palestine from the TKP: Why do you continue to sell cement to Israel?
Israel's aggression against Palestine continues unabated. The Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) has posed several questions to government supporters and the capitalist class, who claim to support Palestine on one hand while continuing to cooperate with Israel on the other.
12punto
The Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) has posed several questions to government supporters and the capitalist class regarding BOTAŞ's oil shipments to Israel, the sale of cement to Israel, Zorlu Enerji's electricity production for the Israeli energy market, and the visa requirements for Palestinians entering Turkey.
The questions shared by the TKP on its official account are as follows:
1. Is BOTAŞ continuing its oil shipments to Israel?
BOTAŞ (Petroleum Pipeline Corporation), which is affiliated with the Turkey Wealth Fund, owns various oil and natural gas transmission lines. Regarding crude oil, BOTAŞ transports crude oil extracted in Kirkuk, northern Iraq, to the Yumurtalık district of Adana, particularly through the Kirkuk-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline.
Another prominent line is the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline. Oil extracted from the Caspian region, primarily Azeri oil, is shipped to the world from Adana. One of BOTAŞ's most important customers is Israel. We demand that this relationship be disclosed!
2. Why doesn't Zorlu Enerji cut off Israel's electricity?
Zorlu Enerji, which has direct investments in Israel, produces electricity for the Israeli energy market through the Ramat Negev, Dorad, and Ashdod natural gas combined-cycle power plants it owns. Why does the Turkish bourgeoisie, which protests the ongoing massacres in a performative manner, not shut down these power plants?
3. Why do you continue to sell cement to Israel?
According to data from the Cement, Glass, Ceramics and Soil Products Exporters' Association, Israel is the country to which Turkey exports the most gray cement after the USA. In addition to this sector, where the annual capacity of 600 thousand tons is exceeded, Israel is also the top destination for white cement exports, with 200 thousand tons annually. Prominent cement producers in Turkey, such as OYAK, Limak, Aşkale, Sanko, and Sabancı, receive a share of these exports.
4. Why do you continue to sell iron and steel to Israel?
Companies operating in the iron and steel sector, including İçdaş, Kardemir, Kocaer, Özkan, Tosyalı, Çolakoğlu, Çelsantaş, Erdemir, and İsdemir, also export to Israel.
5. Explain your relations with the Israeli arms company!
The relationship between the arms company Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and the Turkish Armed Forces and the defense industry is well-known. In which areas are you cooperating today with this company, from which unmanned aerial vehicles were purchased and warplane modernization was commissioned in the past?
6. How do you turn a blind eye to Azeri capital selling oil and natural gas to Israel within Turkey's borders?
SOCAR (State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic), which belongs to the Azerbaijani state capital, has significant investments in Aliağa, İzmir, Turkey. The company, which is a partner in the STAR and Petkim refineries here, also owns its own port facility. Israel is among the company's major customers.
7. Why do Palestinians need a visa to enter Turkey?
Palestinians who want to enter Turkey are required to obtain a visa. The fee for this visa is 55 dollars. On the other hand, Israelis can enter Turkey without a visa. (Arab countries that can enter without a visa include Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, Kuwait, Qatar, and Lebanon.)