Middle East Eye
centerREPORTIsrael 'will be at war with Syria sooner or later', says Likud minister

Full BriefGenerated 67d ago
What Happened
Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party stated in radio interviews on 22–23 May 2024 that Israel 'will be at war with Syria sooner or later'. He described Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's government as a 'jihadist regime rooted in ISIS and al-Qaeda' that cannot coexist with Israel. Chikli also warned of a 'radical Sunni axis of evil' comprising Turkey, Pakistan, and Qatar, which he called more dangerous than Iran's axis, claiming Turkey has established a 'protectorate' in Syria and branding Qatar 'the PR arm of the jihadists'. He cited Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's recent statement that Israel's attacks threaten Turkey and must be stopped, and said he draws lessons from the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack: 'When the enemy says something, I listen.' His remarks follow similar statements from other Likud figures, including Ariel Kellner, Miki Zohar, and former prime minister Naftali Bennett, who called Turkey 'the new Iran'.
Key Actors
- ·Amichai Chikli(Israeli Minister of Diaspora Affairs, Likud party)Claims Israel will inevitably be at war with Syria and warns of a 'radical Sunni axis of evil' led by Turkey, Pakistan, and Qatar, which he sees as more dangerous than Iran.
- ·Syria(Government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa)Chikli labels it a jihadist regime that cannot coexist with Israel and ultimately will lead to war.
- ·Turkey(Government under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan)Chikli accuses Turkey of establishing a protectorate in Syria and harboring dangerous ambitions; Erdogan earlier said Israel's actions threaten Turkey and must be stopped.
Why It Matters
Chikli's rhetoric signals a potential shift in Israeli threat perception from Iran to a Sunni alliance led by Turkey, reflecting and escalating the public deterioration of Turkish–Israeli relations. Such statements could influence Israeli strategic planning, strengthen its alignment with Greece, Cyprus, and India, and risk military escalation along the Syria–Lebanon front if taken as policy intent.
Watch For
Monitor further statements from Israeli Likud ministers or the security cabinet, particularly any formal designation of Turkey as an enemy state. Watch for Turkish diplomatic or military responses, especially Erdogan's remarks or Turkish activity in Syria that could be interpreted as targeting Israeli interests. Also track any US or regional mediation efforts and whether Chikli's framing gains broader political or military traction.
Generated 67d ago · Based on full articleAuto-Compiled
This page aggregates and summarizes reporting from Middle East Eye. The Conflict Pulse does not author original reporting. Read the original source for full coverage.
CONFLICT OVERVIEW
Israel–Palestine
Latest verified updates on Gaza, the West Bank, Israeli military operations, Palestinian politics, humanitarian conditions, and international diplomacy.
Active since May 1948
SOURCE PERSPECTIVES
How outlets across the bias spectrum are covering this conflict.
LATEST FROM ISRAEL–PALESTINE

REPORTAl Jazeera10d ago
Analysis: Israel’s government can’t disown West Bank settler violence

REPORTMiddle East Eye10d ago
France condemns Israeli settlers’ seizure of Palestinian homes in Qusra

REPORTMiddle East Eye10d ago
Netanyahu brands Britain an ‘Islamic republic’ as it prepares Israel sanctions

REPORTAl Jazeera10d ago
Kushner to visit Israel after Netanyahu rejects Gaza Board of Peace plan

REPORTMiddle East Eye10d ago
‘De facto annexation’: Israel to shift civilian enforcement in West Bank from army to police

REPORTMiddle East Eye10d ago