Israel offers Turkey to build gas pipeline

Israel offered Turkey to build a gas pipeline through its territory to export its gas to world markets, the Sabah newspaper reported with reference to a source in the Turkish government on Wednesday.

According to the newspaper, the capacity of the project, offered by Israel, will be 15-16 billion cubic meters. The Israeli side proposed to involve private sector of both countries in the construction of the gas pipeline.

Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz said earlier that the implementation of energy projects between Turkey and Israel will become possible only after the process of normalization of relations between the two countries.

Yildiz said that energy projects are very profitable for Israel and Turkey. However, Turkey will be able to cooperate only if Israel fully fulfils all the conditions of Turkey.

The agreement on normalization of relations between Turkey and Israel was reached in March after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, apologized for violations committed during the maritime operation that resulted in the deaths of Turkish citizens.

The government heads agreed to restore normal relations including the return of ambassadors and Turkey's refusal to legally prosecute Israeli servicemen.