Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has placed Turkey at the center of his upcoming election campaign. A large billboard on Tel Aviv’s main highway shows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan alongside leaders of Iran, Hezbollah and the mayor of New York City, labeled as Israel’s adversaries under the slogan, “They want Netanyahu to lose. Don’t let them win.”
Military strike raises questions
Just days after the billboard went up, Israeli warplanes hit the Abu al‑Dahar airbase in northern Syria. Israeli officials said the strike targeted an emerging Turkish military presence that could threaten Israel’s freedom of action in Syrian airspace. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said intelligence indicated Turkey was preparing to install personnel, drones and air‑defense systems at the site.
Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasized that the operation was a necessary defensive measure, warning that Israel would not tolerate a Turkish foothold in Syria.
Political context and criticism
The timing of the strike, less than two months before Israel’s national elections, has prompted scrutiny. U.S. envoy Tom Barrack, who served as President Donald Trump’s envoy to Syria and ambassador to Turkey, called the attack an “unnecessary escalation” and suggested it might be intended to boost Netanyahu’s electoral prospects.
Turkey rejected the Israeli account, calling it “untenable,” and accused Netanyahu of pursuing expansionist and destabilizing policies ahead of the October vote. Turkish officials said they would continue cooperating with Syria on a legitimate basis for peace and stability.
Security versus strategy
Israeli intelligence sources told CNN that Turkey’s planned deployment could alter the strategic balance in the region, constraining Israel’s operations. A senior Israeli intelligence official said the intelligence was also shared with the Trump administration and Syrian President Ahmed Al‑Sharaa.
Analysts note that while there are genuine security concerns about Turkish activity in Syria, the political benefits to Netanyahu are evident. Opposition leader Yair Lapid, who defended the strike as justified, warned that political leaders should remain quiet after taking such actions. Left‑wing Democrats leader Yair Golan called the operation “provocative and dangerous,” and former prime minister Ehud Barak suggested the escalation reeks of political intent.
Broader regional tensions
Netanyahu’s rhetoric toward Erdogan has intensified in recent years, with the prime minister labeling the Turkish president an “antisemitic tyrant” on social media. The two leaders have exchanged accusations over the wars in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, and Netanyahu has opposed the sale of U.S. F‑35 fighter jets to Turkey, citing aggressive ambitions.
Amos Harel, a senior security analyst for Haaretz, said both security and political explanations are relevant. He noted that Turkey’s approach toward Israel is hostile and that Israel is pursuing a more aggressive line, seeking buffer zones along its borders after the 2023 Gaza attack and the 2024 collapse of the Assad regime.
Implications for the election
Netanyahu’s political bloc is currently trailing in the polls. Critics argue that a new security crisis could reshape the electoral landscape and give Netanyahu greater control over the campaign agenda. The debate continues over whether the strike was a genuine pre‑emptive move or a calculated political maneuver.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
