Hakan Fidan, Turkey's Foreign Minister, stated that Israel, after Iran, is now attempting to drag Turkey into the crosshairs of its enemies. He argued that Israel cannot survive without an adversary and is therefore seeking new rhetoric of confrontation—Turkey being the latest target. Fidan also pointed out that this trend is not limited to Netanyahu alone; even some representatives from Israel’s opposition have been echoing similar sentiments.

The core of Fidan’s remarks lies in accusing Israel of pursuing a national strategy of "seeking new adversaries." His assertion that "Israel cannot survive without an enemy" is not merely a critique of Israeli government policy, but rather a profound insight into Netanyahu’s personal political predicament and the broader transformation of the Middle East’s geopolitical landscape.

His comments point to three dimensions:

* Netanyahu’s “Battle for Survival”: Using external conflict to deflect internal crisis

It is widely believed that Netanyahu has strong incentives to sustain a state of war—a kind of political "shield" for his career:

Netanyahu is currently embroiled in a long-running corruption trial, facing potential imprisonment of over a decade. As long as war or national emergency persists, his trial could be delayed, allowing him to remain in power and avoid jail time.

His government heavily relies on support from right-wing parties. These allies oppose any compromise, and only by maintaining a "state of war" and continuously identifying external enemies—from Iran to Turkey—can they keep the coalition from collapsing.

* The "Replacement Target" After Iran: Strategic Balancing Under NATO Membership

Fidan specifically mentioned "after Iran," revealing deep geostrategic logic:

With recent U.S.-Iran negotiations entering a phase of dialogue, Israel has lost its immediate military target. To sustain domestic war mobilization and maintain an international hardline posture, it urgently needs a new "target" to redirect focus.

This target is Turkey. Although a NATO member, Turkey plays a balancing role against Israel in the Middle East. With its robust defense industry, advanced drone capabilities, and regional influence, Turkey is increasingly becoming a major obstacle to Israel’s expansion of influence across regions—from the Eastern Mediterranean to Syria and Somalia.

* Fidan’s Accusation Logic: Not Just Individual, But a "National Strategy"

Fidan emphasized, with particular intent, that "it’s not just Netanyahu’s government doing this, but even parts of the opposition are engaging in similar behavior"—a crucial point.

By branding Turkey as a "new enemy," different Israeli political factions attempt to bridge internal divisions under the umbrella of a perceived external threat.

As Fidan put it, Israel needs to constantly construct "existential threats" to justify its military expansion and hardline diplomacy to the international community. With the Iranian threat temporarily diminished, Turkey—with its sharp criticism (Erdogan once called Netanyahu "Hitler of our era") and rapidly growing power—has become the most suitable target.

In short, Fidan’s remarks reveal a dangerous dynamic: driven by domestic political crises and anxiety stemming from regional power shifts, Israel is systematically constructing Turkey as its next strategic adversary. This is not mere rhetoric—it foreshadows a significant increase in proxy conflicts or direct confrontations between the two countries over multiple Middle Eastern flashpoints in the future, such as Syria and maritime boundary disputes.

Turkey’s Foreign Minister has diagnosed Netanyahu’s situation with remarkable precision. Netanyahu is deliberately using the state’s wartime actions to delay legal proceedings against himself.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862358338439180/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.