ALBAWABA- In a strong rebuke aired on CNN Türk, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of defying the international community with the backing of the United States.
"The U.S. needs to, so to speak, put Netanyahu in check and set some boundaries for him," Fidan asserted, urging Washington to rein in its close ally.
Fidan also criticized Israel’s actions in Syria, claiming that Tel Aviv has been pursuing a destructive strategy designed to leave no infrastructure for any future administration.
"If a zone of instability emerges in a neighboring country that threatens our security, we cannot remain bystanders," he warned.
Highlighting Ankara’s deteriorating ties with Israel, Fidan confirmed that Türkiye has suspended both diplomatic and trade relations due to the ongoing war in Gaza. He called for an immediate ceasefire as a prerequisite for normalization.
While limited technical contact with Israel continues to prevent military clashes in Syria, Fidan emphasized the need for Israel to be included in existing de-escalation mechanisms that Türkiye shares with Russia, the U.S., and Iran.
He also demanded an end to Israel’s occupation of Syrian territory and the repeated bombing of critical infrastructure.
On a separate note, the Turkish minister revealed that preparations are underway for a high-level meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan “as soon as possible.”
