politics
March 5, 2026
Israel–Türkiye relations at a crossroads: Is Erdogan emerging as Israel’s next strategic threat after Iran?
From the Mavi Marmara crisis to post–October 7 Gaza tensions, Israeli leaders debate whether Erdogan’s Türkiye poses a new strategic threat
TL;DR
- Former Israeli PM Naftali Bennett views Türkiye and President Erdogan as a growing strategic threat to Israeli security.
- Bennett accuses Türkiye of supporting Iran and groups Israel considers terrorist organizations, calling for a policy of containment against Ankara.
- The deterioration of Türkiye-Israel relations is linked to Erdogan's rise to power and the ideological foreign policy of his party, which supports the Palestinian cause.
- The 2010 Mavi Marmara incident, resulting in Turkish casualties during an attempt to break the Gaza blockade, marked a significant turning point, leading to a breakdown in trust and cooperation.
- Recent escalations, particularly following the October 7, 2023, events and Israeli military actions in Gaza, have further strained relations, leading to 'frozen' bilateral ties characterized by distrust.
- Some Israeli political figures, like Bennett, advocate for a rigid stance against Türkiye, while others, like Netanyahu, favor a more pragmatic approach due to the lack of direct territorial conflict and potential for economic cooperation.
- Growing ties between Türkiye and Pakistan, a nuclear power with an anti-Israeli stance, are viewed by Israel as the emergence of an alternative power center.
- Israel perceives regional security as multifaceted, with Türkiye and Pakistan potentially becoming next long-term challenges after Iran.
- Türkiye's NATO membership and US foreign policy considerations related to its relationship with Trump complicate direct Israeli pressure on Ankara.
- Israel's strategy typically involves a systemic approach of building deterrence through alliances, sanctions, and information campaigns rather than immediate confrontation.
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