Ex-national security advisor warns of rising chance of Israel-Turkey conflict

Meir Ben-Shabbat, a former National Security Council head, warned against complacency toward Syria and Turkey's growing regional influence in an interview with Maariv published Tuesday.According to Ben-Shabbat, who served as one of the architects of the Abraham Accords and currently leads the Misgav Institute for National Security and Zionist Strategy, Israel should continue striving for peace agreements, but not at the cost of relinquishing security assets or relying on agreements that could ultimately prove reversible."We must not give up the aspiration for peace," he said, "but we must not allow it to make us lose our judgment."Asked whether or not he believes Syria is attempting to "lull" Israel into complacency while rebuilding its military capabilities, he said that it should not be assumed that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa "has abandoned his path.""I do not know how to read innermost thoughts and intentions," Ben-Shabbat said.