On Israel's Rising Appetite and the Future of the Republic of Turkey

The growing Israeli threat from Latakia in the north of Lebanon to Damascus has come to light. Israel's apparent expansionist policy has come close enough to threaten Turkey as well as the countries in the region, and Israeli army units are now operating in Syrian territory close to our borders. In fact, we come across many assessments that Israel supports the establishment of a terrorist state including some provinces in our eastern region and that it has plans in this direction. In the meantime, we see that the collapse of the 61-year-old Syrian Baath regime has activated some dynamics that may cause the stones to be moved in almost the entire Middle East, especially in Syria.

The Promised Land (Greater Israel Project), which is the joint plan of Israel and the United States behind the scenes of the Greater Middle East project, began to come to light while the stones were being moved. In his speech at the Turkish Grand National Assembly on 15 November 1999, former US President Bill Clinton said, ‘Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and the Republic of Turkey are the key to shaping the 20th century. The 21st century will be shaped by the Republic of Turkey. The key is again in Turkey.’ Isn't it meaningful when we look at it from today's perspective?

In the opening speech of the Parliament in 2024, President Erdoğan said: ‘ I tell you frankly, after Palestine and Lebanon, the place that Israel, which acts with the dream of the promised land, will set its eyes on with a purely religious fanaticism will be our homeland lands. At the moment, the whole calculation is based on this.’ In this context, this statement pointed to another reality, the existence of a possible impending threat.

If we look at the statements made by the Israeli administration since October this year, it is clearly understood that Israel is seeking to target the Republic of Turkey. In the same speech, Erdoğan underlined the importance of the issue for Turkey by saying ‘While we closely follow Israel's attacks in Palestine and Lebanon, we also clearly see how Israel wants to establish small satellite structures in the north of Iraq and Syria by using the separatist organisation as a pawn’.

Conflicts and wars that will change the geopolitical and security balances of the Middle East and shape the coming years continue. The crisis in the region is not limited to a single point, but it is also a sign that a period of expansion and a period in which Turkey's rights and interests must be meticulously protected has entered. If Turkey does not show the necessary importance and determination, I believe that the consequences of these days will be more destructive than expected or foreseen.

In addition, US President Donald Trump's statement on the overthrow of the Assad regime, "Turkey is behind the overthrow of the Assad regime in Syria. Turkey wanted it and succeeded. No one really knows who the winner is, but I think Turkey won. Erdogan is a very smart and tough man. Turkey took control in an unfriendly way without too many casualties. Assad was a butcher. We saw what he did to children."

By the way, based on Trump's speech, could the Syrian people adopt a hostile attitude towards Turkey in the coming years by saying ‘Turkish administration divided Syria!’ based on Trump's statement? I believe that Trump's speech should be read as a clue to a calculated and directive move.

As a result, the Republic of Turkey will not allow the forces that want to establish a terrorist state or states next to our borders. None of us should have any doubt that the Supreme Turkish Army always has the power and capabilities to protect the Turkish lands and borders bequeathed to us by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Because we ‘We have established this republic with blood and wisdom, and we will not die even if the hells rage.’