Israel’s kings and prophets always had to keep a watchful eye on which great power was rising to the north, which alliances were forming, and which foreign armies were approaching the country’s borders. Those who only took the danger seriously once the enemy stood before Jerusalem had, strategically speaking, already lost.
That is precisely why Israel today should be paying careful attention to the north. Not because Turkish tanks will be stationed on the Golan Heights tomorrow, nor because Ankara has already become a second Tehran. But because something fundamental is changing right on Israel’s doorstep: Turkey — a NATO member, a regional power, and a political supporter of Hamas — is expanding its influence in the new Syria.
At the same time, the interests of Jerusalem and Ankara are becoming increasingly opposed. The Israeli public has apparently grasped this. 68 percent of Israelis now regard Turkey as a serious security threat — among Jewish Israelis, the figure rises to 77 percent. And yet Ankara still ranks well below Iran and Hamas in public perception. A new survey by...
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Erdogan is a real and present danger ⛔️
Dear Aviel, allright – but what to do now?
Between yourself and all the others there are always some kinds of different interests. In totalitarism the answer is: Shut up and follow. In democratic politics the answer is: let’s build a political party. In global politics the answer is: Let’s build an alliance.
Always to avoid distress, struggle or fight. Of course Turkey is a danger. But …
– the influence of Turkey on the Syrian Regime is good, not bad. It’s a form of political domination against jihadism … now.
– politics of Turkey are aiming towards getting Syria into a neo-ottoman realm – just like you see it. But this is a try to repell Iranian influence. That’s good, not bad.
– Turkey think in economics … delivering oil and low-tech to Europe. Although Erdogan said in 2013 to his people: You are the ones, that will take back Dimashq. He didn’t say Yerushalayim.
– What, if we see that as a Red Line? Between Israel and Turkey there had been good economic alliances just some years ago. If you sketch a board of interests there are some common interests against Syrian violence. Right?
– So why not to use them? If you just look at it economically it could be a win-win-situation.
But of course there are fears and distraints in psychology: What could happen next? Of course there is a big problem with the Gaza case.
– I’m most worrying about Turkish military influence (aka occupation) in Gaza. That has to be stopped. But you can get that just only with a Treaty on economics. And that is just possible in a form of give and take, economically.
– In such an alliance both parties could earn profits. And even could make an alliance towards Iran, which is not only threatening Israel, but Turkey and the Arabian states as well.