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Israeli Statements Contradict Reports of Concern Over Turkish Influence in Syria
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Israeli Foreign Minister's remarks about not wanting to confront Turkey contradict media reports indicating growing Israeli concerns about Turkish influence in Syria, raising questions about Tel Aviv'
Amid rapid developments on the Syrian front, media reports have emerged suggesting the possibility of confrontations between Israel and Turkey within Syrian territory. However, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar denied these claims, emphasizing that his country does not seek any confrontation with Turkey, whether in Syria or elsewhere.
Saar's remarks came during a press conference he held with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Ursula von der Leyen, in West Jerusalem. In response to a question about Turkey's growing influence in Syria, Saar stated, "We do not want to confront Turkey in Syria or anywhere else."
These statements come at a time when Hebrew media outlets, such as Yedioth Ahronoth and Channel 12, have reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to meet with security officials to discuss the "growing Turkish influence" in Syria following the fall of the Assad regime on December 8. According to these reports, Netanyahu is concerned about the rapprochement between the new Syrian administration and Turkey, with increasing fears of a direct confrontation between the two countries within Syrian territory.
On the other hand, Israeli news site Walla claimed that the Syrian government is in talks with Turkey to hand over a military base in the Palmyra area in Homs province in exchange for economic, military, and political support. The site noted that the potential "Turkish military presence" in eastern Homs is a serious concern for Israel.
In the same context, Channel 12 reported that Netanyahu, through his advisors, is urging media outlets to emphasize that "a confrontation with Turkey on Syrian soil is inevitable." However, these claims contradict the official statements from Foreign Minister Saar, raising questions about Israel's true stance on Turkish movements in Syria.
It is noteworthy that relations between Israel and Turkey have been tense in recent years, especially concerning the Syrian issue, with Israel expressing concerns about the growing Turkish influence in the region.
