LONDON, United Kingdom – Web Desk: The rapidly deteriorating relationship between Turkey and Israel is emerging as a new major regional rivalry, with both nations now viewing each other as direct security challenges, according to a report by The Economist . The British weekly noted that tensions have escalated to a point where Israeli politicians increasingly mention Turkey in the same breath as Iran, highlighting a profound lack of trust between the two Middle Eastern powers.
The report identifies several flashpoints driving the hostility. Israel is deeply concerned about Turkey’s growing military footprint and political influence in post-Assad Syria , where Ankara is working to build a friendly regime in Damascus while combating Kurdish groups it considers terrorists . Israel, by contrast, is establishing a buffer zone in southern Syria to secure its northern border against the new Islamist government .
Adding to the friction, Israel has “reservations” about Turkey’s potential return to the US-led F-35 fighter jet program . Israeli officials have warned that Israeli-made technology inside the F-35 would not be shared with Ankara, citing deteriorating ties . Turkey’s deepening defense cooperation with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Egypt is also viewed with suspicion in Jerusalem . Furthermore, Israel’s recent decision to recognize the Armenian genocide has further inflamed tensions .
Analysts warn that if the current trajectory continues, the consequences could ripple across Syria, regional security alliances, and global power policies . According to a Turkish intelligence assessment, relations are likely to continue under a framework of “managed competition” punctuated by periods of heightened tension .
