The Israeli government has filed a complaint against Turkey with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) after Ankara temporarily suspended trade with Israel due to the Gaza war.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat on Friday called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan an "anti-Semitic dictator" who is violating international maritime law and disrupting global supply chains with the trade boycott.
On Thursday, the Turkish government announced it was suspending all trade with Israel until the Israeli government allows unhindered access to Gaza for humanitarian aid.
Barkat wrote that Israel expects the OECD to take action against Turkey for Erdoğan's "delusional decision, which harms the entire European economy."
Erdoğan, in turn, defended Turkey's actions on Friday, saying it was "no longer possible to be patient" in light of Israel's ongoing war in Gaza. The Turkish president has repeatedly accused Israel of committing "genocide" against the Palestinians.
Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz condemned Erdoğan's decision saying it was detrimental to the interests of Turkish people and businesses.
"This is how a dictator behaves," Katz wrote on X.
Erdoğan highlighted a trade volume of $9.5 billion that Turkey is now foregoing. According to the Turkish Statistical Institute, trade between Israel and Turkey was worth $6.8 billion in 2023.
Israel was the 12th most important trading partner for Turkey last year.
