Jerusalem Post: Erdogan is forming a new Sunni axis

In the Israeli Jerusalem Post newspaper, Israeli expert Yoni Ben-Menachem warned that the statements made by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan conceal an organized plan to build a new Sunni axis that could replace the Iranian role in the region.

A researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs stated that “Türkiye is emerging as a growing strategic threat to Israel”.

He argued that the policies pursued by President Erdogan go far beyond public rhetoric, and according to him, “Türkiye is the new Iran”.

Ben-Menachem claimed that Ankara is quietly working to establish a new Sunni bloc in the Middle East, based on the assumption that the Iranian regime will weaken or even collapse.

He pointed out that such a development would create a regional vacuum after the decline of the Shiite axis, and added that Türkiye aims to fill this vacuum alongside Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Pakistan, in a move aimed at reshaping the regional balance of power.

The Jerusalem Post reported that Ben-Menachem’s assessment is consistent with the steps Ankara has taken in recent years to position itself as a regional leader, partly by playing an active role in defending the Palestinian cause and opposing Israeli interests in the region.

On Sunday, Erdogan accused Israel of committing atrocities against Palestine and Lebanon, and threatened possible military action against Israel, similar to its previous interventions in Karabakh and Libya, according to the Israeli newspaper.

Researcher Ben-Menachem continued: “Alongside the diplomatic front, Türkiye is also strengthening its military presence in Syria, in coordination with Syrian President Ahmed al Sharaa”.

However, Ben-Menachem notes that Ankara has so far remained cautious about approaching southern Syria, due to concerns about a direct confrontation with Israel.

Ben-Menachem believes that these steps reflect regional ambitions that extend beyond Syria or Iran alone, but throughout the Middle East, including regarding the issue of Jerusalem, developments that Israel must take into account now.

Erdogan is the most dangerous figure from an Israeli perspective, as regarding Türkiye’s leadership, Ben-Menachem described Erdogan as the most dangerous figure from an Israeli perspective, and also identified Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan as another key power figure in Ankara.