Netanyahu’s grand delusion: Türkiye and the imaginary threat
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing criticism for allegedly manufacturing a diplomatic crisis with Türkiye to boost his domestic political standing ahead of upcoming elections. Security officials and international observers, including US envoys, have expressed concern that the rhetoric surrounding a recent military strike in Syria is an unnecessary escalation.
Why it matters
The potential for a manufactured conflict between regional powers poses significant risks to Middle Eastern stability and highlights the influence of domestic political pressures on foreign policy.
Benjamin Netanyahu has rarely needed peace to prove his political relevance. He needsdanger.With Israel heading towards elections on October 27, Netanyahu finds himself in anunusually vulnerable position.His Likud party is trailing in severalrecent polls, while his governing bloc has no assured path to a majority.After years of war, Israelis are exhausted, Netanyahu’s promise of “total victory” has failed to materialise, and his claim to be Israel’s indispensable security leader is being tested.And now, Netanyahu appears to have found a new enemy: Türkiye.On August 18, Israeli warplanes struck theAbu al-Duhur military airbasein northern Syria.Netanyahu’s office claimed Syria was preparing to allow Turkish forces to deploy there, threatening Israeli security.Türkiyedenied establishing such a presence, while Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said he had already made clear to Israel that there were no plans for a permanent Turkish base.What followed was almost as significant as the strike itself.Rather than treating it as a…
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in