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Türkiye's top diplomat challenged conventional assumptions about American leverage over Israeli policy on Thursday, suggesting recent developments in Gaza demonstrate that Washington may have less control over its Middle Eastern ally than widely believed.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told MBC MASR TV that ongoing events have revealed "the US does not have as much influence over Israel's policies as assumed; it may even be the opposite." His remarks came during discussions about President Donald Trump's efforts to broker peace in Gaza and establish stability in Syria.
The Turkish foreign minister characterized Israel as a persistent regional destabilizing force, arguing that its seizure of Palestinian territories has created decades of conflict. He asserted that while regional nations support a two-state solution based on 1967 borders, Israel has consistently pursued territorial expansion under the guise of security concerns.
"Israel has never genuinely wanted a two-state solution," Fidan stated. "It has consistently pursued a policy of seizing Palestinian lands beyond the 1967 borders, using security as an excuse."
Fidan described Israeli policies as having evolved into "an official threat to the region" through what he termed expansionist activities across multiple countries. He cited Israeli operations in Lebanon, Syria, Iran, and Yemen as evidence of broader regional ambitions beyond the Palestinian territories.
The foreign minister referenced a recent emergency Arab-Islamic summit in Doha that he said highlighted concerns about Israeli expansion. He pledged continued Turkish opposition to what he characterized as "ongoing genocide in Gaza" and Israeli efforts to annex the West Bank.
A recent Israeli operation targeting Hamas leadership in Doha has "changed many things, while mediation efforts are ongoing," according to Fidan, though he did not elaborate on specific impacts.
The Turkish diplomat also criticized international institutions for failing to address major global conflicts, including the Gaza situation and the Russia-Ukraine war. He argued that current global structures tend to "fuel crises rather than provide solutions."
Fidan called for comprehensive United Nations reform, particularly of the Security Council, describing existing structures as inadequate for addressing contemporary challenges. Without such reforms, he predicted the emergence of alternative regional organizations like BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and ASEAN seeking different approaches to global governance.
Türkiye has been a vocal critic of Israeli policies in Gaza and has positioned itself as an advocate for Palestinian statehood within the broader Islamic world's response to the ongoing conflict.
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