Possibility of War Between Türkiye and Israel

By Kamal Ozturk – Turkish Writer and Journalist

Published
June 24, 2025

This morning, US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran. The deal stipulates that the war will officially end after the ceasefire is maintained for 24 hours—thus concluding what he called the Twelve-Day War.
That announcement does not prevent us from asking another question:
Could a war erupt between Türkiye and Israel similar to what happened with Iran?
Let me begin where I should end: As long as decision-making centres in the US and Israel are controlled by individuals who make decisions based on irrational theological references, no nation in the world is truly safe.
Every country that believes it is currently on good terms with Trump or thinks it has no problems with Israel should understand that it remains vulnerable due to those who view the world through a theologically irrational mindset.
This is precisely the dilemma Europe is grappling with: Anyone who doesn’t act according to logic and geopolitical realities—but is instead driven by delusions and obsessions—is capable of unimaginable madness.
Israel may be one of the most predictable nations in terms of its intentions because it no longer hides its dream of a “Promised Land”. Rather, it has transformed it from a utopian idea into an explicit political objective. Any country in the region that believes its relations with the US are good—but whose borders fall within what Israel defines as its Promised Land—must expect a future slap from the United States.
In the US, there also exists an ideological current that resembles Israel’s irrational thinking and is ideologically aligned with it. The fundamental problem in the region is that many countries have yet to realise they live in a world governed by states that do not base their decisions on reason or geopolitical facts.
Two Phases of Turkish-Israeli Relations
Turkish-Israeli relations have passed through two phases:
The First Phase involved the Turkish government maintaining close ties with Israel while focusing its gaze away from the Middle East and toward Europe.
Though Europe never accepted Türkiye as a full member, it kept Türkiye at its door with glimpses of hope.
During this phase, Türkiye distanced itself from the Middle East and Islamic countries, and Israel enjoyed complete freedom of movement.
However, when Türkiye began to raise its voice slightly, pressure from the US emerged, and internal turmoil ensued.
The Second Phase began when Recep Tayyip Erdoğan came to power.
For the first time, Türkiye showed that Israel could not do whatever it wanted in the region and that Türkiye would not say “yes” to everything.
This was clearly demonstrated at the Davos Conference in 2009, when Erdoğan told Israel’s president: “One minute!”.
I was Erdoğan’s media adviser at the time and accompanied him to Davos.
On the plane, we held a meeting with the other advisers, and Erdoğan said:
“No matter what happens, we will not back down from our decision.”
Thus began a historic new phase.
From that moment on, Israel has sought to destabilise Türkiye.
When it failed on its own, it tried to orchestrate a military coup in Türkiye through the leader of the Gülen movement, who was living in the US before dying there.
On July 15, 2016, a coup attempt was carried out by the FETO organisation under Fethullah Gülen.
It failed.
251 people were martyred, and more than 2,000 were injured.
Türkiye emerged from that US- and Israeli-backed attempt even stronger.
Would Israel Attack Türkiye?
What the countries of the region have failed to realise is that Israel, which is not guided by reason or geopolitical logic, can commit any madness—with support from similar US currents.
These actors show extreme positions not only toward Islamic countries but even toward their closest allies in Europe.
As long as this mindset bases its decisions on religious and theological emotions—rather than political rationality—the danger is immense.
Considering how the US administration has recently spoken about its traditional European allies, one can only imagine what it might do to Islamic nations.
Iran, until recently, was considered a “red line” by the US.
Yet Israel struck it.
Now, the Israeli press is referring to Türkiye as the next enemy to confront in the final phase.
This does not surprise us because we believe that Israel’s theologically driven mindset is capable of committing such a folly.
Türkiye Senses a Threat from Israel
Attacking Iran had long been an Israeli dream, but Israel failed for years to persuade Washington.
It has now succeeded in dragging the US into military strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Anyone who thinks Israel will stop there is delusional.
Türkiye has perceived Israel’s expansionist and aggressive policies as a direct threat and has begun adjusting its security policies accordingly.
After the attack on Iran, President Erdoğan declared that Türkiye would reformulate its defence and security strategies.
In an environment where Israeli aggression has transformed into open military attacks, no country is safe.
Especially now that the “Promised Land” dream has evolved into a tangible political project, Türkiye has heightened its threat awareness to the highest level.
Türkiye, which possesses one of the strongest militaries and defence industries in the world, is now adapting its security policies to confront the “expansionist threat” posed by Israel—a trend we’ll see more clearly in the future.
Interestingly, 96% of the Turkish population views Israel as a threat and feels anger toward it.
The reality is that no state or nation in the Middle East will be safe as long as Israel clings to its dream of a “Promised Land.”
But why don’t they admit this?
That’s what I cannot understand.

Shortlink: https://sudanhorizon.com/?p=6153