Turkey Warns Israel Against 'Dangerous Path' of Confrontation

Turkey's intelligence chief, İbrahim Kalın, stated that Ankara is closely observing the formation of a new government in Israel, led by Gadi Eisenkot. Kalın indicated that the approach of this new Israeli government towards Turkey will reveal whether disputes stem from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policies or from the Israeli state itself. He warned that if Israel designates Turkey as a hostile or rival nation, it would be a "dangerous path."

Speaking at a conference in Ankara, Kalın asserted that the core of the dispute between Turkey and Israel is solely the Palestinian issue, emphasizing that Turkey was the first Muslim-majority country to recognize Israel and establish diplomatic ties. Turkey's demands, according to Kalın, include a change in Israel's attitude towards Palestinian Arabs, an end to the occupation, and a halt to further annexation. He claimed that past diplomatic crises were rooted in Israel's policies concerning Palestinians and defended Ankara's criticism of Israeli military operations in Gaza and the West Bank, citing the loss of thousands of Arab lives.

Kalın further suggested that Israel's recent policies have led to significant international isolation, a sentiment he believes is understood by Israelis outside of Netanyahu's Likud party. He referenced recent comments by U.S. President Donald Trump, who noted a decline in support for Israel, and suggested Israel needs to reassess its entire policy. Kalın also accused Israel of territorial expansion in Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank, actions he believes destabilize the region.

Despite the rising tensions, Kalın insisted that Turkey does not seek confrontation with Israel and does not consider it an enemy, stating, "They themselves need to change." The report also noted that Turkish President Erdoğan had recently spoken with Trump twice, reportedly to prevent a new U.S. operation against Iran.