Israel Hayom, Jan. 8, 2025
“Turkey’s interests in turning Syria into a client state, thereby bolstering its regional influence, are clear. Our response includes on-the-ground actions and preparing for potential threats that could escalate rapidly.”
Turkey’s attempt to turn Syria into a client state, replacing Iran and Russia as key influencers, is a growing concern for Israeli officials. A senior political source in Jerusalem confessed that Turkey’s activities in Syria have become a top priority in recent days.
This concern is evident: Two critical discussions are scheduled in the coming days by Israeli leadership: one at the Defense Ministry, and another led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israeli officials view Turkey’s moves in Syria as carrying “the potential for heavy friction between the two countries.”
Israel is preparing for the possibility of Turkey becoming a strategic threat, as reflected in the The Nagel Commission’s report. The Commission, established to formulate recommendations on Israel’s force building needs and security budget in the coming decade, mentioned Turkey 15 times in the report, highlighting regional instability and the potential for rapid changes, including attempts to destabilize the Jordanian monarchy, shifts in Egyptian and Turkish approaches, and rising friction with Israel.
One section of the report explicitly warns the prime minister about the risks: “The problem will escalate if Syrian forces effectively become a ‘Turkish proxy,’ as part of Turkey’s ambition to restore Ottoman-era influence. The presence of Turkish forces or their proxies in Syria could heighten the risk of a direct Israel-Turkey confrontation.”
What could lead to this scenario? The Turkish military’s entry into Syria, which could result in the rapid arming of the country, and military actions against the Kurds in the country’s east, potentially spilling over to Israel’s doorstep. This threat is described by the Commission as a “potential for drastic change” in relations with Turkey, a country with which Israel maintains ongoing diplomatic ties, albeit currently based solely on mutual interests……SOURCE