For over 20 years, Itzik Isteric, the owner and CEO of Arbel Metals, was one of Israel's largest exporters and importers of metals to and from Turkey. Each year, he exported tens of thousands of tons of scrap metal collected throughout the country to Turkey and imported tens of thousands of tons of construction iron for use in the local construction industry.
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His business relations with his Turkish counterparts survived ups and downs, reflecting the complex dynamics between Israel and Turkey. Even during times of heightened tension between the two countries, notably following the Gaza flotilla raid incident in 2010, when Israeli Shayetet 13 naval commandos intercepted the "Mavi Marmara," resulting in the death of 13 Turkish civilians attempting to breach the maritime blockade around the Gaza Strip. Despite the strained relations, Isteric maintained successful business ties with his Turkish associates.
The brutal massacre carried out by Hamas on October 7th and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's surge of comments on the IDF, accusing them of "terror acts and murder" in Gaza, along with his comparisons of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "Hitler," proved to be too much for Isteric.
"I informed all my clients and suppliers in Turkey about the cessation of activity. I no longer work with the Turkish market, and I hope that more Israelis will join the move. As an Israeli, I cannot accept the Turkish president likening my prime minister to Hitler, whether he likes him or not. That's where I draw the line," explained Isteric.
Isteric, who also serves as the head of the Steel Importers Division at the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, is a pioneer in metal trade with Turkey, starting in 2002. He is one of the six main exporters of scrap metal to the Turkish industry, which averages around 300,000 tons of scrap metal collected annually, with his share in total exports amounting to approximately 60,000 tons per year.
He recognizes that his economic war against the Turkish president will not change much for the Turkish industry, which consumes vast quantities of metals from across Europe and imports scrap metal from Britain and the United States.