Netanyahu's Warnings are Pushing Turkey To War Against Israel
In an interview with North Radio 104.5FM, Israel's former ambassador to Turkey, Alon Liel, warned that the messages to Ankara are not deterring but rather pushing Turkey toward military preparations, and he cautions against a possible confrontation in Syria and the opening of an "eighth front."
In a stark warning on North Radio 104.5FM, Alon Liel, Israel's former ambassador to Turkey and ex-director-general of the Foreign Ministry, cautioned that Jerusalem's tough rhetoric toward Ankara is backfiring, pushing Turkey toward military buildup and raising the risk of a new conflict, possibly in Syria, that could open an "eighth front" for Israel.
Liel reacted to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent message to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, delivered after Netanyahu's meetings with Greek and Cypriot leaders.
Far from deterring Turkey, Liel argued, Israel's warnings are amplifying perceived threats in Ankara. "We in Israel feel like we're intimidating everyone, Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, and now Turkey, but in reality, this is driving the Turks to upgrade their air defenses and air force," Liel said.
He added that Turkey is actively preparing for a potential regional showdown involving Israel, Greece, and Cyprus. Liel highlighted the volatile Syrian theater as a flashpoint, where Israel exerts influence in the south and Turkey operates in the north. Without clear agreements, he warned, the two militaries could clash indirectly, with spillover effects reaching Gaza.On Gaza's future, Liel noted Israel's efforts to exclude Turkey from any international force tasked with disarming Hamas. He credited Israeli opposition for influencing U.S. policy, evidenced by Turkey's exclusion from a recent Qatar conference.
Still, he stressed the challenge: "Someone has to go into Gaza and disarm Hamas, and I don't see many volunteers." Turkey, he suggested, might be the only willing player, potentially through political rather than military means.
Liel also pointed to Turkey's regional maneuvers, including persuading Azerbaijan, a key Israeli security partner, not to deploy troops to Gaza. He expressed alarm over Turkey's deepening ties with Azerbaijan, warning that as Israel bolsters alliances with Greece and Cyprus, Ankara will counter by fortifying its own axis.
"Losing Azerbaijan wouldn't be simple," he said. "We've had enough with seven fronts in two years and two months, God forbid we open an eighth."
Maariv contributed to this article.