Turkey

From northwest Iraq to Tripoli on Libya’s African coast, Turkey is flexing its muscles – without the slightest nod to the supposedly ‘pro-Western’ and ‘pro-NATO’ orientation that Turkey’s Western apologists like to recall.

A strong Turkish foothold in Libya threatens the free flow of energy resources from the Eastern Mediterranean basin to Europe as planned by Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Italy and Israel.

This paper reviews the responses of Middle Eastern countries to the spread of the coronavirus and highlights diplomatic and defense implications stemming from the situation. The assessment of JISS fellows is that the coronavirus crisis will not fundamentally change power dynamics in the region or alter the prevailing ambitions and policies of key countries.

Russia’s desire to woo Turkey from the West likely to prevent all-out war.

Prospects of a wide-scale Russia-Turkey conflict.
 Interview with Col. (res.) Dr. Eran Lerman

Despite Syrian-Turkish clashes this week, Moscow is set to remain the key arbiter in Syria.

Trilateral cooperation among Israel, Greece and Cyprus to build a natural gas subsea pipeline is setting the stage for more tensions with Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Is Turkey trying to sabotage massive new Israel-Cyprus-Greece EastMed gas deal?
Prof. Efraim Inbar: The Libyan-Turkish deal is meant to force Israel and Cyprus to negotiate with Ankara.

Israel needs enhanced naval capability for the protection of its own EEZ and for the creation of a proper balance of power in the eastern Mediterranean.

“There’s no panic or despair. But a deep sense of betrayal”
Turkey’s Syria offensive could displace over a million Kurds, top analyst Jonathan Spyer warns. Believes Kurds will reject Israeli offer of humanitarian aid.

On "Kurdophobia," Refugees and Reviving the National Pact Borders.

What Can and Should Be Done to Limit the Scope of the Turkish Assault on Rojava?

While a determined Western-led effort to halt the Turkish invasion could still prevent Russian, Iranian and IS gains, time is growing short.

The Turkey-Qatar-Muslim Brotherhood alliance first came to prominence in the early, optimistic months of the “Arab Spring.”

Katz Demands Foreign Ministry Stop Turkish Subversion in East Jerusalem.
Dr. David Koren: Turkey is the most active and important foreign country operating in eastern Jerusalem.

Turkish forces are also present in northern Iraq, where they are engaged in action against the PKK presence in the Kurdish-controlled north.

The US, Europe and Israel can force a modification in Erdoğan's conduct on a wide range of issues, including his duplicity on Iran, support for Hamas in Gaza, subversion in Jerusalem, intervention in Libya, aggression towards Cypriot gas explorations, threats to Kurds of Rojava, and repression at home.

Gaza Violence Exacerbates Israel-Turkey Rift.
Dr. Hay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak: At the end of the day, if you are supporting Hamas your relationship with Israel will be problematic.

Turkey launches ‘Blue Homeland’ naval drill.
Dr. Hay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak: The largest naval drill in country's history is a clear message for Cyprus and Greece.

General Amidror: US withdrawal from Syria is a red flagץ
Former NSA warns that US pullout from Syria endangers Kurds, empowers Turkey, and sends troubling message to American allies.

Military, diplomatic and economic pressures can be brought to bear to preserve SDF and Kurdish autonomy in northeastern Syria, and to deter Turkey and Iran from conquering these areas.

Trump Syria pullout ‘blow’ to Tel Aviv: Israeli experts.
Dr. Eran Lerman: The move will make anyone who thinks of a coalition with the U.S. in the future move away from the idea.

Trump’s hurried exit from Syria, under pressure from a Turkish threat, will be interpreted by all sides as a strategic defeat, an abandonment and a debacle.

Turkey finds itself at a historic junction where it must decide whether to proceed alone by challenging Israel, Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus – or whether to embrace regional cooperation.

A Fragile Russian-Turkish Cease-fire In Syria’s Idlib.
Dr. Hay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak of JISS: Turkey is eager to exclude Syria from negotiations because it does not recognize the government of al-Assad and does not want to grant it legitimacy by engaging in talks.

Turkey faces few good options as the Idlib offensive looms.

Turkey is turning northern Syria – Jarabulus and Afrin – into the “Turkish Republic of Northern Syria,” just as it has turned northern Cyprus into a Turkish protectorate through military and economic domination.

Ankara is allowing Hamas to continue operating from Turkish territory against Israel. Israel can and should thwart such Turkish violations of the reconciliation agreement between the two countries.

Israel should be defending itself against Erdogan by blocking his Jerusalem incursion, and taking the offensive against Erdogan by impeding his military build-up.

FOREIGN POLICY EXPERT: ISRAEL NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE ITS POWER AND LEVERAGE
Interview with JISS's Dr. Emmanuel Navon: Israel is not weak!

After Erdogan’s Victory, What Should Israel Do?
Dr. Emmanuel Navon: Israel should work on its relationship with Greece and Cyprus as a counterweight to Turkey.

Prof. Efraim Inbar on Iran, Trump and Turkey
Australian Jewish News, 8.6.2018

Turkey, Israel, Syria.
Professor Efraim Inbar discusses Turkey and Israel's strategic positions, plus recent developments in Syria.

Turkey is no longer a reliable Western ally. Provision of the F-35 jet would strengthen Erdogan's authoritarian Islamist regime and boost its capabilities for regional mischief.

Israel should ring the alarm bells about Turkish adventurism. Under Erdogan, Turkey has become a dangerous country on the road to authoritarianism.

Former NSC Head Amidror: South Africa And Turkey Not Important for Israel.
"The world doesn’t understand difference between a protest in Brussels and a terrorist group using a protest as cover to destroy a military barrier."

“Sadat” is heavily involved in Ankara’s training of Syrian Sunni rebels for the fight against Assad.

All indications suggest that for Turkey, the recent battles were only a phase in a larger process. So where might Turkey turn next? And what is the goal of the Turkish campaign?

President Erdogan is taking Turkey in dangerous directions. The conquest of the Kurdish 'Afrin enclave lends momentum to his ambitions. Erdogan must pay a manifest price for leading Turkey towards dictatorship and Islamism.

Emmanuel Navon explains for ARD TV (Germany) how Israel's emergence as a natural gas exporter is transforming its relations with Turkey and with Europe.

How the arrest of this Kurdish leader is handled will indicate the extent to which the Syrian Kurds’ central role in the fight against the Islamic State has accrued some broader political legitimacy for their leadership. This, in turn, has implications for the troubled relationship between the West and Turkey.

While Israel cannot let Turkish President Erdogan's attacks slide, its response must differentiate between Turkish society and its popular but problematic leader.