The Israeli Defense Ministry has extended a contract with Dorad Energy, a power plant partially owned by a Turkish businessman with close ties to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, according to a report by The Jerusalem Post.
Although Erdoğan uses harsh rhetoric against Israel, accusing it of committing genocide in Gaza, his government has faced criticism for not cutting off diplomatic and commercial relations with the country.
Ankara announced it had suspended all trade with Israel in May, but recent reports suggest that Turkey now disguises its exports to Israel by inflating figures on exports to Palestine, which surged 1,180 percent year-on-year in July.
According to the report the plant — 25 percent owned by Zorlu Holding, a Turkish conglomerate chaired by Ahmet Nazif Zorlu, which has a 25 percent stake in Dorad Energy — continues to supply electricity to Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) bases.
Israel’s Defense Ministry has allowed substantial funds to flow to Zorlu Holding. The company has been supplying electricity to the IDF and the Ministry of Defense since 2004.
The continued financial relationship between the Israeli government and Zorlu Holding raises questions, especially as Erdoğan’s rhetoric and actions against Israel intensify.
Dorad, located south of Ashkelon, is one of Israel’s largest power plants, operating on natural gas and diesel. The Israeli government has a 37.5 percent stake in the plant through the state-controlled entity Kinet.
According to the report Dorad’s board of directors, which includes representatives from Zorlu Holding, approved the renewal of the agreement to supply electricity to IDF bases in July.
Boycott @ZorluPSM!
Zorlu Energy part-owns the Dorad plant, supplying 5-8% of apartheid Israel’s energy while it carries out genocide against 2.3 million Palestinians in besieged Gaza. pic.twitter.com/8c1otm8sRo
— PACBI – BDS movement (@PACBI) August 1, 2024
In Turkey, Zorlu Holding’s ties with Israel have not gone unnoticed. The company faced pressure from the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. The Irish band Fontaines DC has recently canceled a performance at the Zorlu Center in İstanbul due to its association with a company that “cooperates with the Zionist enemy.”
Despite selling stakes in other Israeli energy projects, Zorlu Holding has retained its stake in Dorad, which continues to supply electricity to Israel’s security forces.
Turkey on Wednesday formally submitted a petition to intervene in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel over its military campaign in Gaza at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Monday Turkey had decided to join the case initiated by South Africa, which accuses Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, confirming that the formal submission would take place on Wednesday. This move follows Turkey’s announcement in May that it would participate in the case, stepping up measures against Israel over its military actions in Gaza, which have resulted in nearly 40,000 deaths according to local health officials.