Israel may need $6m to move Istanbul consulate

The building that housed Israel’s consulate in Istanbul has failed an earthquake resilience inspection, prompting the Israeli government to consider its options.

Sources familiar with the matter told Middle East Eye that the building, partially closed since Israel withdrew its diplomatic staff from Turkey in October 2023 over security concerns, is set to be demolished, with a new development planned to replace it over the coming years.

This has left the Israeli government in a difficult position.

Some Israeli sources initially told the media that the consulate was being closed for the foreseeable future because of rising political tensions between Turkey and Israel. However, the issue appears to be more about technical obstacles.

Although parts of the building belong to Israel, the new development poses several commercial challenges and additional costs if the Israelis want to reopen the consulate on the same plot. The building is a plaza that hosts multiple businesses and offices on several floors. 

“There are Israeli specifications for the construction of Israeli diplomatic missions, and the construction company most likely cannot accommodate these requirements because they are costly,” one source familiar with the issue told MEE.

“Therefore, if they want to keep the consulate in the new project, they would have to convince the construction company and provide the necessary budget for it.”

It is unusual for such a plaza to be demolished for redevelopment, as it could be considered a semi-skyscraper under Turkish standards. The now-empty consulate building was attacked in April by people affiliated with the Islamic State group, who wounded two police officers.

The source added that while the new property would still remain in the Israeli government's ownership, it was unlikely that Israel would keep its consulate in the new building.

'Israel is considering all its options for the time being, and no decision on this matter has been taken'

- source

Relocating the consulate to another building could also prove very costly.

Israel has extensive security requirements, including high-grade armoring, specially designed cabling, camera systems and other protective measures.

Some estimate the cost at $6m, sparking debate in Israel over whether it should spend that amount in a country where diplomatic relations are effectively frozen.

“Israel is considering all its options for the time being, and no decision on this matter has been taken,” a second source told MEE.

However, a third person familiar with the matter said the Israeli government currently does not have the budget for such a move, making relocation to a new building unlikely.

Another issue affecting bilateral relations is that the chief-of-mission positions on both sides are now vacant. Israeli Ambassador Irit Lillian is retiring at the end of this month, while her Turkish counterpart, Sakir Ozkan Torunlar, retired last year.