In Turkey, they waited for the end of Netanyahu's term - and then came the intelligence discovery that reshuffled the cards

A report by Turkey's National Intelligence Academy presents Israel as a long-term strategic rival. The analysis, published after the elections, assesses that even replacing Netanyahu with Eisenkot will not change Israeli policy, and identifies Syria as the most dangerous arena for confrontation.

A report by Turkey's National Intelligence Academy (MİA), published on October 23, 2026, presents Israel as a long-term strategic rival, not a temporary rivalry tied to a specific government. The analysis, published two days after the elections for the 26th Knesset, assesses that even replacing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Gadi Eisenkot will not bring about a substantial change in Israel's foreign and security policy, especially regarding Iran, Syria, and Lebanon. The report identifies Syria as the most dangerous arena for direct confrontation between the two countries, particularly since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024. The rivalry also extends to the Eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus, and trade corridors such as IMEC. Researcher Esen, quoted in the article, states that the Turkish assumption that the end of Netanyahu's term would allow a new page in relations was mistaken, and that the tension is a long-term competition over the regional order.

In Turkey, they waited for the end of Netanyahu's term - and then came the intelligence discovery that reshuffled the cards