Israel-Turkey Rivalry Intensifies Amid Regional Power Struggle and US-Turkey Ties
The rivalry between Israel and Turkey has escalated significantly following the conflict with Iran, evolving from political disagreements into a fierce contest for regional influence and reshaping the Middle East balance of power. According to the British magazine The Economist, Israel's security establishment views Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, former head of Turkey's intelligence agency MIT, as "the most dangerous man to Israel in the region," citing his strong ties to Iran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed growing dissatisfaction with the personal rapport developing between US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as well as Washington's willingness to cooperate with Ankara on Syrian matters. Netanyahu is particularly irritated by Trump attributing the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime to Erdogan, whereas Netanyahu credits Israeli strikes against Hezbollah for paving the way.
Israeli officials are increasingly concerned about the potential sale of American Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, following hints from Trump that the freeze on the deal could be reconsidered. The rivalry between Ankara and Tel Aviv now transcends personal animosity between Erdogan and Netanyahu, becoming a strategic battle over the regional order. Several Israeli politicians classify Turkey as one of Israel's most significant strategic threats, alongside Iran.
Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan has accused Israel of trying to destabilize the region, while Erdogan has accused Israel of committing "genocide" in Gaza and views its military actions in Syria and Lebanon as direct threats to Turkish national security. Israel's recognition of the Armenian genocide on June 28 has further escalated tensions with Ankara, which denies the 1915 massacre.
Turkey supports a strong, unified Syria, contrasting with Israel's preference for a weak, fragmented Syrian state. Additionally, growing military and intelligence cooperation between Israel, Greece, and Cyprus, such as Israel supplying Greece with precision rocket launchers and Cyprus with air defense systems, has fueled tensions with Turkey, which continues to assert claims over disputed waters and gas fields contested with Greece and Cyprus.
