Turkey and Israel edge closer to confrontation as Tayyip Erdogan’s polic

The already strained relationship between Israel and Turkey is now facing even greater challenges, with recent developments in Syria potentially escalating tensions into a direct military confrontation.

On Wednesday, tens of thousands gathered in Istanbul to protest against Israel, showing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been a vocal critic of Israel for years, fueling anti-Israel sentiment in Turkey.

The conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, with a surprise Hamas offensive, quickly evolved into a larger regional war. This war has shifted the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East, with Turkey and Israel's interests increasingly at odds.

Dr. Hay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak, an expert on Turkey at Tel Aviv University, noted that Erdogan initially viewed the war as just another round of violence. However, as Israel waged an all-out war against Hamas, Erdogan's ties with Israel deteriorated, influenced by his ideological affinity with Hamas' Muslim Brotherhood roots.

One of the most significant developments is the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, which has raised questions about the future of US-backed Kurdish groups in Syria. The Turkish-backed Islamist rebels who overthrew Assad now pose a direct threat to Kurdish territories, a situation that places Israel, which has had covert relations with the Kurds, in a difficult position. Turkey is working to solidify its influence in Syria, and with its border now closer to Israel, tensions could escalate in what was once one of Israel’s quietest frontiers.

“There is a real risk of a future military confrontation between Israel and Turkey,” said Prof. Efrat Aviv, a Turkey expert from Bar-Ilan University. “The unprecedented events in the region are setting the stage for further escalation.”

* The Jerusalem Post contributed to this article.