A ‘security meeting’ was held in Israel concerning Türkiye’s growing influence in the Middle East, following the Nagel report, which recommended preparations for a possible conflict with Türkiye.
According to two Israeli officials who spoke to The Jerusalem Post, the meeting addressed Türkiye’s increasing regional influence and its potential effects on Israel.
The meeting was attended by Israeli Defence Minister Yisrael Katz, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, and several senior officials.
The discussions focused on assessing whether Türkiye’s growing influence represented a change in the level of threat to Israel. An Israeli official revealed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also expected to convene a separate meeting in the coming days to address the same issue.
In its latest report on Israel’s defence budget and security strategy, the Nagel Committee, established under Netanyahu’s instructions, advised that the Tel Aviv administration should prepare for a ‘possible war’ with Türkiye. Presented to Netanyahu, Defence Minister Katz, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, the report claimed Türkiye was pursuing ambitions to regain its Ottoman-era influence. It further suggested this could heighten tensions with Israel and possibly lead to conflict.
The report warned of the risk of Syrian opposition groups allying with Türkiye to form a powerful new threat to Israel’s security. It stated, “The threat from Syria could become even more dangerous than the Iranian threat.”
To address these challenges, the report recommended increasing the defence budget by up to 15 billion shekels (approximately $4.14 billion) annually over the next five years. This would help counter threats posed by Türkiye and other regional challenges.
Commenting on the report, Netanyahu stated, “We are witnessing fundamental changes in the Middle East. Iran has long been our biggest threat, but new forces are entering the arena, and we must be prepared for the unexpected. This report provides us with a road map for securing Israel’s future.”
The report emphasized the need for Israel to strengthen its military capabilities in anticipation of a potential conflict with Türkiye. It specifically recommended acquiring additional F-15 fighter jets, refuelling aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and satellites to bolster Israel’s long-range strike capacity.
