Netanyahu's Office Accused of Inflaming Tensions with Turkey for Political Gain

An Israeli airstrike on a Syrian airport was not necessarily problematic in itself, but the Prime Minister's Office's subsequent political maneuvering and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's provocative statements towards Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are criticized. The article likens these actions to a "blender" of spin, suggesting the PM's office prioritizes political optics over factual realities.

While the Turkish military's presence near the Syrian border is noted, the article asserts that Turkey's trend is to withdraw forces from Syria, not deepen its involvement. Erdogan's influence in Syria is primarily through Turkmen militias, not regular troops. The author questions the motive behind creating tension with Turkey, contrasting it with a previous alleged spin operation that aimed to create friction between Israel and Egypt for Qatar's benefit.

One theory posits that the current spin aims to create a new active front for Netanyahu ahead of elections, especially after former US President Donald Trump closed off fronts with Iran and Gaza. Efforts to incite the West Bank and alleged attempts to take over the Muslim market in Jerusalem's Old City are seen as part of this strategy.

The article dismisses the idea of Egypt having plans against Israel, stating Egypt's primary concerns are Ethiopia's dam on the Nile, the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, and the Muslim Brotherhood. It argues that Israel and Egypt share aligned interests, and that excessive public statements from the Israeli government could be detrimental.

The author suggests that the Syrian airport strike might have been intended to delineate spheres of influence, allowing Turkish presence in some areas while Israel maintains freedom of action, but this could be muddled by the PM's office's spin. The article concludes by noting that Erdogan's vision of an Ottoman caliphate conflicts with regional stability and Israel's interests with its natural partners like Jordan and Saudi Arabia.