"A very problematic situation": The new map Turkey is building around Israel

Dr. Hai Eitan Cohen Yanarocak warns that since October 7, there has been a profound shift in Turkey-Israel relations, reflected in Turkey's upgrade from a pro-Palestinian to a pro-Hamas stance, a systematic delegitimization campaign against Israel, and Turkish entrenchment in Syria. The expert points to the "Neighbors of Syria" alliance encircling Israel from the north, northeast, and east, and to an Israeli strike in August on a Syrian base that marked official recognition of the Turkish deployment as a threat.

Dr. Hai Eitan Cohen Yanarocak, a Turkey expert, warns in an article in Ma'ariv that since October 7, Ankara's attitude toward Israel has undergone a profound change. According to him, Turkey has upgraded its diplomatic stance from pro-Palestinian to pro-Hamas and is waging a systematic delegitimization campaign against Israel in the Turkish media, where it is labeled a "rogue state" or "gang." He notes that Israeli aid during the earthquake was forgotten, and instead Turkey chose to collapse normalization. The Turkish entrenchment includes an initiative to establish the "Neighbors of Syria" alliance (Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Jordan), encircling Israel from the north, northeast, and east, as well as involvement in the Mecca agreement with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. In August 2026, an Israeli airstrike on the Abu al-Duhur base in Syria classified the Turkish deployment as an explicit threat for the first time. Yanarocak defines this as a preemptive strike to prevent future friction. He warns that given statements by senior Turkish officials about aspirations to control Jerusalem, this is a "game changer" and further statements are expected alongside targeted Israeli actions.