Israel may need $6m to relocate Istanbul consulate after earthquake safety failure
Israel is considering whether to spend up to $6 million to relocate its consulate in Istanbul after the building failed an earthquake resilience inspection and is set to be demolished. The consulate has been partially closed since Israel withdrew diplomatic staff from Turkey in October 2023 over security concerns. No decision has been taken, and sources say the government currently lacks the budget for such a move.
Israel is weighing whether to spend up to $6 million to relocate its consulate in Istanbul after the building failed an earthquake resilience inspection and is scheduled for demolition, sources familiar with the matter told Middle East Eye.
The consulate has been partially closed since Israel withdrew its diplomatic staff from Turkey in October 2023 over security concerns. The building, a plaza housing multiple businesses and offices, is set to be razed and replaced by a new development over the coming years.
Although parts of the building belong to Israel, the planned redevelopment presents commercial hurdles and additional costs if Israel seeks to maintain a consular presence on the same plot. “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 said. “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.”
Relocating the consulate to another building would also be expensive, with estimates reaching $6 million, reflecting Israel’s extensive security requirements including high-grade armoring, specially designed cabling, and camera systems. The cost has sparked debate in Israel over whether to 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.
The consulate building was attacked in April 2026 by people affiliated with the Islamic State group, wounding two police officers. Separately, both chief-of-mission positions are now vacant: Israeli Ambassador Irit Lillian is retiring at the end of May 2026, while Turkish Ambassador Sakir Ozkan Torunlar retired in 2025.