Turkey accuses Israel of destabilizing Syria, Israel warns of growing Ankara influence - interview

Israel's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan criticized Turkey for attempting to destabilize Syria, following a Turkish foreign minister's visit to Damascus. Fidan claimed that Turkey's actions, including a recent airstrike on a disused airbase, conveyed a destructive message intended to undermine Syria's state-building efforts. The Syrian counterpart, Asaad al-Shaibani, vehemently denied any intention to deploy troops to the site, emphasizing that the attack had no legal justification and would not affect Turkey's relations with Israel.

Fidan argued that Israel's policies constituted the most serious obstacle to a positive trajectory in Syria, suggesting that a stable Syrian government, particularly one in Lebanon that could confront Iranian influence, would benefit Israel.

However, Professor Efraim Inbar, president of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, asserted that Israel would actually benefit from a stable Syrian government, capable of controlling its borders and potentially becoming a peace partner. Drawing parallels with Lebanon, Inbar argued that a weakened Syrian state would pose less of a threat to Israel due to its inability to direct resources toward the Jewish state.

Inbar acknowledged that Israel had limited power over the development of neighboring states but cautioned against overestimating Jerusalem's influence.

Despite the apparent tensions, Turkish support for President Ashara has grown, with Ankara and Damascus reaching around 40 agreements and memoranda of understanding, connecting 22 Syrian ministries and government agencies. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan is expected to visit Syria soon, further deepening Ankara's influence in the country.

This expanding Turkish presence, coupled with the potential threat posed by Erdogan's "hate spewed" rhetoric and statements about aspirations to govern Jerusalem, poses a significant risk to Israel, according to Inbar.