BySETH J. FRANTZMAN

JULY 30, 2026 10:23

Updated: JULY 30, 2026 11:10

Criticism directed at Turkey and Syria remains a steady topic in Israeli political discourse. Observers in Turkey are taking note of these developments.

Turkish outlets are covering Israeli remarks with growing frequency. It is worth reviewing how these statements now portray Ankara's position in Syria and the way Turkey might read them.

Turkish media noted on July 30 that Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held talks with the recently chosen Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya.

Jerusalem is likely to view this meeting unfavorably, consistent with a growing perception of Ankara as an emerging challenge.

A brief look at the background helps set the stage.

Longstanding Connections Between Israel and Turkey

Links between Turkey and Israel extend to the period before Israel's founding. Zionist figures David Ben-Gurion and Yitzhak Ben-Zvi pursued legal studies in Istanbul during 1913.

After Israel was established, Turkey became the first Muslim-majority country to recognize it. Relations stayed constructive until the AKP party gained influence in the early 2000s.

Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan grew more outspoken against Israel, particularly following the 2009 Gaza conflict. Efforts at mending ties occurred at times, including as recently as 2021.

Yet the Hamas assault and the ensuing Gaza war have driven relations to fresh lows.

From Jerusalem's perspective, Turkey is not only advancing adversarial messages but may also pose a strategic or regional risk. This aligns with rising criticism of Qatar among Israeli officials.

Years earlier, Doha was regarded as useful in dealings with Hamas in Gaza. Funds from Doha passed through Israel into Gaza. Since October 7, views of both Turkey and Qatar have changed in Jerusalem.

This shift now produces near-weekly remarks targeting Turkey as well as Qatar.

Regular statements also criticize Syria. Its leadership is frequently labeled jihadist, and warnings of conflict with Syria appear regularly.

Israel is already engaged in Lebanon and Gaza while addressing terrorism in the West Bank. It is notable that some voices in Jerusalem advocate additional fronts in Syria. Earlier Israeli leaders treated war as a final option.

After more than 1,000 days of fighting, much of the current language favors expanded operations across additional fronts, based on the view that Israel holds the region's strongest military position and can rely on US backing to confront further adversaries.

The White House has shown resistance to expanded Israeli activity in Syria, especially tensions with villagers near the Golan.

The Trump administration seeks calm in Gaza and Lebanon rather than further conflict. It also maintains positive relations with Turkey and Qatar, which may complicate planning in Jerusalem for those who anticipate friction with these states.

These statements are drawing increased regional attention. ANHA news, known as Hawar News Agency, is a Kurdish source.

Israel Plans Syrian Bases if Turkey Moves Forward

It reported on July 28 that Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen stated Israel would need to set up military bases inside Syria should Turkey move ahead with its own bases on Syrian soil.

The report added that Cohen emphasized Tel Aviv would not ignore any Turkish military presence in neighboring Syria and would respond similarly to protect national security and regional interests.

On July 23, Daily Sabah, a Turkish outlet aligned with the government, observed that Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli argued Israel should ready itself for possible future conflict with Turkey, describing direct military contact as a plausible outcome.

The piece noted Chikli's remarks at a conference in west Jerusalem, where he suggested a direct encounter between the Israeli and Turkish forces might occur at sea and could arise even the next morning.

Middle East Eye reported in June that an Israeli Likud minister predicted war with Syria sooner or later. The Turkish outlet Yeni Safak noted in March that former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett caused debate with pointed comments about Turkey during a Bloomberg interview.

Bennett called Turkey a new strategic threat to Israel and suggested possible steps against Ankara, stating the choice rests with Turkey and warning that after Iran, Israel would not remain passive.

On July 29, Daily Sabah also covered Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz renewing critical comments on Turkey during remarks about regional security, Syria, and Iran.

The report noted that in an interview with Israel's Channel 14, Katz said Israel does not seek military confrontation with Turkey but would defend itself against threats.

Referring to the Ottoman capture of Constantinople, he stated that Israel is not a collapsing Christian empire, Jerusalem is not Constantinople, and the country knows how to protect itself.

The report added that the minister claimed Ankara seeks greater influence in Syria and that Israel would prevent Syria from becoming a base threatening its security. A separate February comment from Bennett at the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, covered by Media Line, described Turkey as the new Iran.

Iran Remains Viewed as a Regional Danger

Iran continues to be seen as a threat to Israel and the broader area. It retains ballistic missiles and has kept up attacks despite five months of conflict since February. It remains unclear how Israel would address Turkey, a NATO member, if Iran has not yet been dealt with.

If Turkey is cast as the new Iran, the reality is that Turkey possesses a strong army, air force, and navy.

Many recent Israeli comments on Turkey appear on the social media news site Clash Report, which presents itself as a global platform covering conflict zones with detailed analysis and current reporting.

Clash Report has faced criticism for leaning pro-Ankara. On July 29, it highlighted on X Bennett's remarks regarding US sales of F-35 jets to Turkey. The post claimed Bennett said Israel cannot permit enemies to receive advanced arms, as that would hinder self-defense.

Ragip Soylu, Turkey Bureau Chief of Middle East Eye, referenced the Bennett comments in an X post, noting that Bennett labeled Turkey an enemy.

Clash Report also featured Eli Cohen's July 28 statements in a post, quoting the Israeli minister as saying Israel will not accept Turkey's entrenchment in Syria and would establish its own bases there if Turkey does so.

Israel's discussions with Trump concerning Turkey are also becoming more frequent. Israeli media reports on July 29 indicated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented US President Donald Trump with a map comparing Israel's presence in Syria.

Trump has often noted his positive ties with Erdogan and observed that Erdogan does not get along with Israel's prime minister. Trump appears interested in balancing these relationships. He has also expressed support for Syria's leader.

Recent frictions with Syria have included Israeli civilians attempting to cross into the country and clashes with local villagers opposing IDF presence.

Israel's insistence that Syria keep forces away from the border has turned the Golan border area beyond the 1974 ceasefire lines into a kind of no-man's land marked by low-level disorder and a power vacuum. Without Syrian military presence, stability becomes difficult to achieve.

This situation risks becoming self-fulfilling for Israel. Officials view Syria as a danger, which leads to a border vacuum where threats may arise as civilians resist living under IDF operations.

This marks a notable change from the Assad era when Israel offered support to Syrian civilians near the border. Now those civilians encounter mainly hostility from the IDF.

Turkey's leadership has registered these Israeli statements. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attempted to moderate some language on Israel in mid-July. Ankara appears concerned about possible clashes in Syria.

On July 30, Turkey's pro-government Anadolu agency reported that Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Khalil al-Hayya, the newly elected head of Hamas' Political Bureau, along with a Hamas delegation, according to Turkish Foreign Ministry sources.

Such meetings are unlikely to improve relations with Jerusalem.