Israel's Regional Plans Stall, Prompting Turkey-Led Trade Alternatives

The Gaza war and related security crises have forced Israel to suspend the India‑Middle East‑Europe Corridor (IMEC), a G20‑announced trade route linking India, the Gulf and Israel's Haifa port. Analysts say the project is on hold as Israel‑Saudi normalization stalls and the risk of attacks on ports rises. In response, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Turkey are fast‑tracking parallel corridors that bypass Israeli territory, including a revived Ottoman‑era railway concept and a Iraq‑Turkey‑Europe link via the Basra Faw port.

Separately, a piece in The Jerusalem Post has urged Israel to directly arm the PKK to weaken Turkey and Iran, portraying such support as a strategic tool for regional influence. The article highlights Israel's alleged intent to fund and supply extremist groups as part of a broader effort to destabilise its neighbours.