Israel Views Turkey as Rival, Not Enemy, Amid Regional Tensions
A senior Israeli diplomatic official stated that Israel considers Turkey a rival, not an enemy, despite recent economic, legal, and diplomatic actions taken by Ankara against Jerusalem. While communication channels previously existed through Azerbaijan, the official noted these have diminished recently. He expressed confidence that neither side desires military confrontation, despite increased Turkish naval activity near Israeli operations in the Mediterranean.
The current tensions are exacerbated by a recent Israeli strike on a Syrian military airport near Idlib, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said aimed to prevent Turkish entrenchment. Turkey denied these claims, and the strike raised concerns about potential clashes between the two nations, whose relations have been strained for years, particularly since the Gaza war. During that conflict, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan supported Hamas and harshly criticized Netanyahu's government, even requesting Interpol issue a "red notice" against him.
In response to these tensions, Israel is strengthening its alliances with Greece and Cyprus, both of whom are wary of Turkey's military buildup. The Israeli Ministry of Defense announced the completion of the "Achilles Shield" deal, where Greece will purchase a multi-layered Israeli air defense system, including David's Sling and Spyder systems, for approximately 3.1 billion euros. This marks the largest defense export deal with Greece and one of Israel's largest ever.
Erdogan, meanwhile, issued a stern warning to Athens regarding its alleged arming of Greek islands near the Turkish coast. He stated that Turkey would not allow its rights to be infringed upon and that ignoring international agreements would be detrimental. Erdogan cautioned against misinterpreting Turkey's restrained approach as weakness, urging Greece to reverse its policy of arming non-militarized islands.
The diplomatic official also addressed strained relations with Europe, noting Israel's successful defense against attempts to harm its Association Agreement with the EU over the past 18 months. He highlighted the support of friendly nations within the EU that have blocked detrimental initiatives. Regarding the controversial plan to build in the E1 area between Jerusalem and Ma'ale Adumim, the official dismissed claims that it aims to thwart a future Palestinian state, calling such arguments "ridiculous." He asserted that Israeli settlement in Judea and Samaria is a long-standing consensus and that the E1 plan, originating from the Rabin era, is a continuation of this policy.
