Likud minister says Turkey and Syria 'far more concerning than Iran'

What Happened

On June 24, 2026, Israeli Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli of the Likud party said at the JNS International Policy Summit in Jerusalem that 'Turkiye of Erdogan and Syria of al-Sharaa are now far more concerning than Iran.' Chikli claimed that 'the era of Shiite empire of Iran, Assad's Syria and Hezbollah is over' and that a new 'Muslim Brotherhood axis of Erdogan's Turkiye, Syria and Qatar' has emerged. He warned that a 'jihadist regime rooted in Isis and al-Qaeda' in Syria cannot live in peace with Israel. These statements follow similar remarks by other Israeli officials: earlier in June 2026, Likud politician Ariel Kellner declared Turkey an 'enemy state,' and Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar said Israel 'must begin to treat Turkey as an enemy state.' In February 2026, former prime minister Naftali Bennett stated that 'Turkey is the new Iran.' The comments reflect growing Israeli rhetoric casting Turkey and the new Syrian leadership as primary threats, amid already tense bilateral relations with Ankara.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The remarks indicate a potential realignment in Israeli threat perception, shifting focus from Iran and its proxies to a Sunni Islamist bloc led by Turkey and the former al-Qaeda-linked government in Syria. This could deepen the rift between Israel and Turkey, already strained by Ankara's criticism of Israeli operations in Syria and Lebanon, and may complicate regional diplomacy, including Qatar's mediation role. The framing of a 'Muslim Brotherhood axis' echoes longstanding Israeli concerns over political Islam and could influence Israeli policy toward the new Syrian leadership and its backers.

Watch For

Monitor whether the Israeli government formally adopts a policy designating Turkey as an 'enemy state' and any concrete military or diplomatic steps, such as increased support to Turkish Kurds or heightened border tensions in Syria. Watch for Turkish and Syrian reactions, particularly any escalation in rhetoric or proxy activity. Observe if other Israeli security officials echo or contradict Chikli's assessment, and whether the U.S. or other mediators respond to the shifting threat narrative.