Israeli Minister Warns Turkey Is Replacing Iran as Regional Threat with Israel as Next Target

Israeli Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, Amichai Shikli, issued a stark warning at Channel 14's Security Conference about a shifting threat landscape in the Middle East. He stated that while Iran and its proxies like Hezbollah are weakening, Turkey is increasingly filling the power vacuum with a hostile ideology toward Israel. Shikli emphasized that Turkey and Syria, united by the Muslim Brotherhood ideology, pose a growing danger, with Syria’s dominant group HTS described as "Al-Qaeda under a respectable name," aiming to extend influence over the Levant region including Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel.

Shikli highlighted the internal threat posed by Turkey’s influence within Israel, contrasting it with Iran’s limited impact on Israel’s Arab minority. He pointed to active Turkish-linked factions inside Israel, such as the Islamic Movement, represented by figures like Kamal Khatib and Raed Salah, making the threat more complex and dangerous. The minister also warned of potential dramatic moves by Turkey in Lebanon.

Regarding international dynamics, Shikli noted the United States’ pragmatic approach toward Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, influenced by broad economic interests and lobbying efforts, including those by Tom Bark, which aim to improve Turkey’s international image. He further mentioned a strategic competition over energy routes and resources between India and Europe, with Syria and Turkey as key junctions.

Shikli’s remarks signal a significant shift in Israel’s security concerns, from the traditional Iranian axis to a rising Turkish-Syrian front, both externally and within Israel’s borders. This evolving threat underscores the complexity of regional alliances and the multifaceted challenges Israel faces going forward.