Expert Warns of Rising Israel-Turkey Tensions Amid Regional Power Struggle

Dr. Eddy Cohen, an analyst on Arab affairs, warned that Israel faces challenging times ahead in its relations with Turkey, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Speaking in a Channel 14 interview on Sunday, Cohen highlighted the escalating conflict of interests between the two regional powers as a key factor driving the tension. With Iran's influence waning, Israel and Turkey have emerged as dominant forces in the Middle East, but their competing alliances and ambitions are causing friction.

Cohen pointed out that while Israel maintains strategic partnerships with Greece and Cyprus, Turkey is expanding its regional influence by forging its own alliances. Erdogan's ideological ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and Ankara's support for Hamas further complicate relations. Turkey's NATO membership and its political leverage in Europe and the Middle East give it significant diplomatic strength, making it harder for Israel to counterbalance.

The analyst also noted the importance of the American dimension, stating that Erdogan currently enjoys backing from elements within the Trump administration. This support complicates Israel's diplomatic efforts, especially regarding Turkey's military presence in Syria, which Israel views as a growing security threat. Cohen emphasized that Israel must work intensively with the United States to prevent hostile Turkish entrenchment in Syria and to safeguard its own security interests.

The warnings come amid a backdrop of increasing regional instability and highlight the complex geopolitical challenges Israel faces as it navigates its relations with Turkey and broader Middle Eastern dynamics.