ALBAWABA- Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Israel is seeking to shift its strategic focus toward Turkey after its confrontation with Iran, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of relying on external adversaries to sustain his political agenda.
“Israel cannot live without an enemy, and after Iran, Netanyahu seeks to declare Turkey a new enemy,” Fidan said at a press briefing in Ankara, in remarks that underscore rapidly deteriorating relations between the two countries.
Fidan criticised emerging regional alignments involving Greece, Israel, and Cyprus, warning they risk fuelling instability rather than building trust. He called for a comprehensive regional security framework based on mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He also described Israeli military actions in Syria as “a major problem and a grave danger” for Turkey, cautioning that Israel’s current limited activity there, due to its focus on the Iran conflict, should not be seen as a lasting restraint.
On maritime tensions, Fidan reiterated Ankara’s position that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open through peaceful means, warning that any armed international intervention would carry “significant difficulties.” He added that both the United States and Iran recognise the importance of maintaining a ceasefire, signalling Turkey’s continued support for de-escalation efforts.
The remarks came a day after an unprecedented exchange of sharp rhetoric between Israeli and Turkish officials. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Israel Katz, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir accused President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of antisemitism, supporting terrorism, and failing to respond to Iranian missile strikes on Turkish territory. Katz described Erdogan as a “paper tiger” and a “Muslim Brotherhood member who has massacred Kurds,” while Ben-Gvir used explicit derogatory language.
In response, the Turkish Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the statements, describing Netanyahu as a “war criminal” allegedly wanted by international courts and referring to him as “the Hitler of our time” over alleged actions in Gaza and across the region.
The latest exchange builds on long-standing Israeli concerns regarding Turkey’s regional role. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has previously described Turkey as “the new Iran,” accusing Ankara of pursuing a strategy aimed at encircling Israel through regional alliances.
The escalating rhetoric reflects deepening strategic mistrust, with Ankara pushing back against what it sees as efforts by Israel to reframe regional alignments following the collapse of ceasefire talks and the growing crisis around the Gulf.
