"Erdogan with imperial dreams": the new warning to Israel

Prof. Uzi Rabi warns that Turkey is trying to deepen its grip on Syria, including taking over an airport in Idlib, which could reduce Israel's aerial freedom of action. He calls on Israel to act early to prevent this, and warns of Turkish expansion into Lebanon and Gaza. He also addresses the changing regional alliance structure and declining trust in Washington.

Prof. Uzi Rabi, a Middle East expert, warns in an interview with 103FM that Turkey is trying to deepen its hold on Syria in a way that could limit Israel's freedom of action. According to him, Turkey wants to take over an airport in northern Syria, about 70 kilometers from the Syrian-Turkish border in Idlib, and place anti-aircraft defense batteries there against Israeli planes, which would reduce Israel's aerial freedom of action in the Middle East. Rabi calls on Israel to act now to prevent deeper Turkish entrenchment, and warns that Erdogan is a 'very dangerous figure' who could also reach Lebanon and Gaza. He also addresses changes in the regional alliance structure and declining trust in Washington, arguing that regional states tend to do 'all of the above'. Regarding Hamas and Hezbollah, he says that a pause in fighting allows them to strengthen, and that in Gaza territory must not be returned without guarantees of Hamas disarmament.