Israel cannot live without an enemy, says Turkiye’s FM Hakan Fidan Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned that Israel cannot sustain itself politically without an enemy and is now attempting to position Turkey as its next adversary following its confrontation with Iran. Speaking in a televised interview with the state-run Anadolu news agency, Fidan stated that after Iran, Israel cannot live without an enemy, and that elements within both Netanyahu’s government and some opposition figures are participating in a state strategy to declare Turkey the new enemy. Fidan’s remarks came amid escalating tensions between Ankara and Jerusalem, which have intensified since the Hamas-led October 7 attack and the subsequent war in Gaza. He emphasized that this effort is not limited to the current Israeli administration but involves broader political actors seeking to frame Turkey as a target. The foreign minister described this as a new development in Israel’s foreign policy, turning hostility toward Turkey into a deliberate state strategy. The comments follow recent statements by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who warned U.S. President Donald Trump of possible provocations and sabotage that could jeopardize a ceasefire arrangement in the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. Erdogan also suggested that Ankara could soon consider military engagement with Israel, marking a significant escalation in rhetoric. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by vowing that Israel would continue to confront Tehran and its regional allies, asserting that the campaign was “not over.” Fidan interpreted this as evidence of Israel’s reliance on external threats to maintain internal political cohesion. The deterioration in Israel-Turkey relations reflects a broader shift in regional dynamics, where Turkey’s balancing role in Middle Eastern affairs has made it a focal point of Israeli strategic pressure. Fidan argued that Israel’s actions are driven less by genuine security concerns and more by a need to sustain a narrative of existential threat to justify its policies. As of April 18, 2026, no direct military confrontation has occurred between Israel and Turkey, but diplomatic and rhetorical exchanges have grown increasingly hostile. Both nations remain key players in regional security, and their evolving relationship continues to influence broader geopolitical alignments in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East.
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