Political and media discourse in Israel is increasingly portraying Turkey as the next regional threat after Iran. This shift is not a momentary reaction to verbal disputes, but a structured effort to recast Ankara in the international imagination from a difficult regional partner into an ideological adversary that must be confronted.
Within this narrative, a set of recurring accusations has been pushed to the forefront. These include claims of supporting terrorism through ties with Hamas, allegations of antisemitism and persecution of Christians, and portraying the Turkish leadership as expansionist and destabilising for the Middle East. The aim is not merely criticism, but delegitimising Turkey’s regional role and reshaping alliances accordingly.
Features of the New Israeli Discourse
For decades, Israeli-Turkish relations oscillated between cautious cooperation and managed tension. In recent years, however, Ankara has been repositioned from an inconvenient partner to a dangerous ideological rival. This change has been expressed through coherent narratives seeking to undermine Turkey’s legitimacy and damage its global image.
Central to this discourse is the accusation of supporting terrorism, focusing on Turkey’s relationship with Hamas. Israeli officials highlight Ankara’s refusal to designate Hamas as a terrorist organisation and its engagement with some of the movement’s leaders. This rhetoric intensified after October 7, 2023, when President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sharply condemned Israeli operations in Gaza, describing Hamas as a national liberation movement and accusing Israel of war crimes. Israeli media responded by openly labelling Erdogan an enemy of Israel and circulating unverified claims about Hamas activity allegedly planned from Turkish territory.
A second narrative frames Turkish criticism of Israel as antisemitism rather than political opposition. Israeli officials and commentators argue that Erdogan uses state platforms to incite hostility against Jews under the banner of defending Palestinians. Pro-Gaza demonstrations in Turkey, where Hamas flags were raised, and Zionism was criticised, were portrayed in Israeli media as collective demonisation of Jews. Some Israeli figures went as far as accusing Turkey of fuelling global antisemitism and describing Erdogan as hostile to Jews.
A third narrative exploits the issue of religious minorities, particularly claims of Christian persecution in Turkey. Israeli officials have sought to resonate with Western and evangelical audiences by depicting Turkey as unsafe for Christians. Symbolic moves such as the reconversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque have been used to present Ankara as opposed to Western civilisation, while Israel is framed as a protector of religious pluralism.
A fourth narrative focuses on alleged ideological extremism and Turkish expansionism. Israeli media frequently invoke the concept of “neo Ottomanism” to describe Turkish regional policy, portraying Erdogan as seeking to revive imperial influence through alliances with movements such as the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, as well as coordination with Iran and Qatar. Turkey’s military presence in Syria has been presented as a strategic threat comparable to Iran, with warnings that Syria could become a corridor for Turkish forces toward Israel’s borders.
These narratives are reinforced by attacks on Turkey’s internal politics. Israeli officials routinely criticise Ankara’s record on freedoms and the rule of law, portraying Erdogan as a dictator who lacks moral legitimacy. This framing has gained traction across much of the Israeli political spectrum, from government figures to opposition leaders, contributing to a consolidated image of Turkey as a comprehensive ideological enemy.
Who Is Driving the Campaign
The escalation in Israeli rhetoric toward Turkey is the product of a coordinated political and media effort rather than spontaneous reactions. At its core stands the right-wing government led by Benjamin Netanyahu, which returned to power before the Gaza war of 2023. Netanyahu personally played a key role by repeatedly linking Turkish criticism of Israel to antisemitism and raising allegations of Christian persecution.
Foreign ministry officials, security figures, and military institutions have reinforced this discourse. Reports and warnings from official bodies, including recommendations by the Nagel Committee on defence budgeting, have been leaked or publicised to highlight what is described as the Turkish threat, especially in Syria.
Right-leaning Israeli media outlets have amplified these messages. Newspapers and research platforms have published analyses portraying Erdogan as an explicit enemy and warning of Turkish military expansion. International Jewish media and think tanks have echoed this framing, with some describing Turkey as the next major threat after Iran. Lobbying networks in Washington and European capitals have also contributed by depicting Turkey as an unreliable NATO ally, citing its purchase of Russian S-400 systems and its military actions in Syria.
The result is a broad ecosystem involving political leaders, security institutions, media platforms, research centres, and external pressure groups, all producing a consistent narrative that presents Turkey as a multidimensional threat and prepares the ground for tougher Israeli policies.
Why Turkey Now
The question arises as to why Israel is now elevating Turkey to the status of a primary adversary. One key factor is the perception that Ankara is filling a regional vacuum once occupied by Iranian influence. Turkey’s engagement with Palestinian factions, its military footprint in Syria, and its ambition to shape post-war arrangements in Gaza have raised alarms in Israeli political and security circles.
Another factor lies in domestic Israeli considerations. Emphasising a new external threat helps unify internal ranks and divert attention from internal divisions. After periods of social and political tension inside Israel, the emergence of a new enemy narrative serves to mobilise public opinion and strengthen government cohesion.
Externally, framing Turkey as a destabilising force sends a message to Western allies that Israel faces multiple regional threats, not only Iran. Turkey is presented as representing what Israel describes as Sunni or Brotherhood based extremism, complementing the Shiite extremism attributed to Iran. This broadens Israel’s security narrative and reinforces its claim to be a frontline defender of Western interests.
Timing is also crucial. The sharp turn in Israeli rhetoric coincided with heightened tensions during the Gaza war, when Turkish criticism reached unprecedented levels and included accusations of genocide. Israel responded with diplomatic retaliation and opposition to any Turkish role in ceasefire arrangements or reconstruction efforts. At the same time, Israeli assessments suggested that Iran was temporarily deterred, allowing attention to shift toward Ankara before it became an entrenched strategic challenge.
Turkey’s Response
Ankara has not remained silent. Instead, it adopted a dual approach combining systematic defence with diplomatic and political counterattack. Turkish officials have consistently rejected accusations of antisemitism, stressing that criticism targets Israeli government policies, not Jews as a people or religion. Erdogan and senior officials have emphasised Turkey’s historical role as a refuge for Jews and warned against conflating opposition to Israeli actions with hostility toward Jewish communities.
Turkey has also denied supporting terrorism, describing its contacts with Hamas as political engagement aimed at encouraging Palestinian reconciliation. Ankara has highlighted its humanitarian mediation efforts, including participation in arrangements that facilitated the release of Israeli captives in late 2023.
At the same time, Turkey has worked to reinforce its international image as a pragmatic regional actor. It has maintained its NATO role, preserved dialogue with Western partners, kept channels open with Russia and Iran, and engaged in mediation efforts across multiple crises. Its humanitarian assistance to Gaza further strengthened its claim to moral and political responsibility.
In the near term, Israeli Turkish relations are likely to remain tense, characterised by rhetorical escalation rather than complete rupture. While Israel has had limited success in influencing parts of international opinion, it has failed to build a global consensus against Turkey. Ankara, for its part, has absorbed the pressure and preserved its regional influence.
In this sense, Israeli “Turkophobia” appears to function as a tactical tool for short term gains rather than a sustainable long term strategy. As regional and international balances continue to shift, this narrative may weaken or be redirected, leaving the relationship between the two sides subject to changing calculations and potential surprises.
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