Turkey’s rise increases risk of confrontation with Israel, former national security chief warns

Former Israeli national security adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat warned in a Maariv interview that Turkey's growing regional influence increases the risk of confrontation with Israel. He cautioned against assuming Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has abandoned his jihadist path, citing Turkey's dominance in Syria, the new Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, maritime ambitions, and support for Hamas as factors. He urged Israel to preserve security margins and avoid reversible agreements.

Meir Ben-Shabbat, former head of Israel's National Security Council, warned in an interview with Maariv published Tuesday against complacency toward Syria and Turkey's growing regional influence. He said Israel should continue pursuing peace but not at the cost of security assets or reliance on reversible agreements. Regarding Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Ben-Shabbat said one should not assume he has abandoned his path, describing him as coming 'from the heart of jihadist darkness' and reaching power on a jihadist base with Erdogan's support. He cited four examples of Turkey's rise: dominance in Syria, the new Mecca Joint Defense Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, the Blue Homeland maritime doctrine clashing with Israel's energy alliances, and continued support for Hamas. He also noted Turkey's campaign to institutionalize accusations against Israel. Ben-Shabbat stressed Turkey should not be equated with Iran, each requiring different handling. He urged Israel to preserve security margins and not exchange tangible assets for agreements that could be reversed.