'Erdogan’s man'? Why Trump envoy Tom Barrack is angering Israel

The controversy surrounding Tom Barrack, Donald Trump's envoy to Syria and U.S. ambassador to Turkey, has strained relations between Israel and the United States. Israel is particularly concerned about Barrack's influence on American policy, especially in regards to Syria, Turkey, and Israel's own freedom of action in the region.

In a recent incident, Israel targeted an Abu al-Duhur base in northwestern Syria, which led to a strong response from Barrack. He warned of potential escalation and a direct confrontation between Israel, Turkey, and Syria, due to the lack of communication between the sides. However, Israel sees the base strike as a preventive measure against an impending change in the security balance on the ground.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed that Israel's main concern is not just Barrack's statements, but also his worldview, which prioritizes Turkey and its president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in shaping regional order. Netanyahu believes Barrack promotes Erdogan's interests and those of the Syrian regime, which is not sensitive to Israeli sensitivities or Israel's specific concerns.

The conflict deepened when Israel supported the new leadership in Damascus, supported by the U.S. Despite Barrack's efforts to promote Syria's integration into the regional system, economic reconstruction, and improved ties with Turkey, Israel worries about the potential for turning Syria into a Turkish client state, which could threaten Israel's freedom of action.

A particularly contentious remark from Barrack in December 2025 further exacerbated relations. He suggested that "Israel can claim it is a democracy," but that a "benevolent monarchy" worked best in the region. This was widely seen as an insult to Israel's democratic character and led to a meeting between Barrack and Netanyahu. Despite claiming the meeting was constructive, Israel remains wary of his influence on U.S. policy.