'No other way': Goods coming into Palestine have to pass through Israeli customs and ports, says West Bank trader

By Mehmet Alaca, Enes Canli

JERUSALEM (AA) – A major steel trader in the occupied West Bank said goods coming to Palestine have to pass through Israeli customs and ports, and Türkiye cutting trade with Israel will affect the Palestinians.

Speaking to Anadolu, Mahmoud al-Wahar said he imports between 130,000 and 150,000 tons of steel from Türkiye on an annual basis, which has to pass through Israeli ports and customs as well.

While Turkish exports to Israel have decreased significantly, shipments of goods to the Palestinians continue.

Al-Wahar, one of the largest steel merchants in Palestine and also involved in various other businesses, said his group imports industrial materials, especially steel, from Türkiye and the trade volume is increasing every year.

He said the steel imported from Türkiye is mostly used in the West Bank market, adding: "We were also selling in Gaza, but we withdrew from the Gaza market a year ago."

- Turkish quality, standards

The trader said reasons for working with Turkish companies are high quality standards and reasonable prices.

Türkiye is historically and traditionally very close to the Palestinians, Al-Wahar said, underlining the trust Palestinians have established with Türkiye.

He said there is brotherhood with Türkiye rather than only a commercial relationship. "The reason we work with Türkiye is quality and standard. Although not always, price too. We cannot find goods for such prices in Europe. There is trust between us and Turkish companies,” he said.

Explaining that they have been working with Türkiye for 15 years, Al-Wahar said: "Whatever we import must comply with Israeli and Palestinian standards. Turkish manufacturers also work according to these standards."

"It's not just steel and cement. We also import industrial input materials such as plastic used in our factories," he added.

- ‘Cutting trade between Türkiye and Israel means cutting off trade with Palestine’

The businessman argued that Palestinian businesses will be affected if trade between Israel and Türkiye is cut.

"This means cutting off trade between Türkiye and Palestine, not only with Israel. Because we do not have ports or airports. When importing products from Türkiye, they come through Israel. There is no other way to bring the supplies. This will affect us, all Palestinians," he said.

Al-Wahar said if trade between Israel and Türkiye is suspended, they will not be able to purchase any materials from Türkiye, and will have to look for other sources.

Talking about options such as Gulf countries, Europe, Egypt and China, Al-Wahar said Cairo does not meet the required standards and the products by others are costly.

"Who will start controlling the West Bank market in this situation? Israeli companies,” he said, sharing that there are two steel companies in Israel. “They can easily control the Palestinian market. So, it will affect all parties."

- 'No other way'

Underlining that they have to trade with the entire world through Israel, Al-Wahar said: "There is no other way. For example, doing trade through Jordan is very costly. Transportation costs, flight costs, everything is very high."

He said before the start of Israeli war on Gaza last October, his factories worked in three shifts 24 hours a day. But have since been closed.

Pointing out that working with Türkiye means growth and development of the Palestinian people, Al-Wahar said: "We do not only work with Türkiye in the steel sector, we work with Türkiye in food and clothing sectors as well. All these products are needed."

Al-Wahar said they import from Türkiye, not Israel, adding: "We are growing with Türkiye, we are developing day by day and year by year. We are expanding our business in all sectors."

- ‘As Palestinians, we depend on Israel at border gates and ports’

Also speaking to Anadolu, Balawi Group of Companies manager Abid Al-Wahar said he has been doing business with the Turks since 2008 and is comfortable with the working relationship.

"As Palestinians, we are dependent on Israel at the border gates and ports. When we import from Türkiye, we pay the customs duty to Israel. They transfer the taxes they collect to the Palestinian administration. Therefore, if Türkiye cuts trade with Israel, it will not allow us to import from Türkiye. In this case, we will have to turn to Europe, Russia or China."

He said the US and Israel wanted to establish a partnership with him, but he rejected it. "I told the Palestinian economy minister that I would only trade with the Turks. I do not trust anyone other than these people. I have been working with them for many years. They also trust me."

"Turks make things easier when trading with the Palestinians than with the rest of the world. They treat the Palestinians more leniently," he remarked.