Arad Nir Urges Israel to Pursue Diplomacy with Turkey Despite Tensions

Arad Nir, Foreign News Editor at Channel 12, challenged the prevailing Israeli media narrative that Turkey has designated Israel as a new strong enemy. Speaking on 103fm with Amichai Etali and Gideon Oku, Nir emphasized that while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is authoritarian and harsh, Turkey has not officially labeled Israel as an adversary. He noted that Turkey consistently advocates for a two-state solution as the resolution to current conflicts.

Nir questioned why Israel is quick to adopt hostile rhetoric when the facts on the ground do not support the idea of a declared enmity. He urged Israel to leverage diplomatic channels to calm tensions, pointing out that diplomatic relations with Turkey remain intact and have not been downgraded. He criticized Israeli commentators who claim Turkey has defined Israel as an enemy, asking for evidence of such declarations.

Furthermore, Nir expressed frustration over Israel's inability to translate its military strength into diplomatic achievements. Despite possessing a powerful army and strategic weapons, Israel has failed to secure meaningful political gains, particularly since the October 7 massacre. He highlighted the lack of success in weakening Hamas or advancing regional policy and questioned Prime Minister Netanyahu's effectiveness in achieving diplomatic objectives.

Nir also referenced the ongoing issue of selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, noting Israel's efforts to block agreements between the US and Iran, which he described as a true enemy. He questioned the outcomes of these efforts, implying that military actions have not yielded the desired political results. Overall, Nir called for a reassessment of Israel's approach, advocating for increased diplomacy rather than escalating tensions.