“Israeli MP Ariel Kellner declares Turkey an ‘enemy state’ Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 06/11/2026 - 11:11 Likud lawmaker says Turkish President Recep Erdogan is a 'very dangerous person' amid increasing tensions between the two states Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at a press conference following the conclusion of the G20 leaders' summit at the Nasrec Expo Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa, 23 November 2025 (AFP) Off Israeli lawmaker Ariel Kellner has declared that Turkey is an “enemy state” amid escalating tensions between the two countries. Kellner, a member of the Knesset from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, said in an interview with Galei Israel radio that Turkey is an “enemy state for all intents and purposes” and that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is “a dictator who seeks to restore the Islamic caliphate”. “He is a very dangerous person who hates Israel to the core,” Kellner said, adding that Israel and western states should “view him as a threat”. Kellner’s comments came after Erdogan said on Tuesday that Israel’s attacks on Syria and Lebanon had reached a point where they pose a threat to Turkey, and that Israeli “aggression” threatens the security of the whole world. “Israel must be stopped, this is the duty of humanity,” Erdogan said. Netanyahu responded by calling Erdogan an “antisemitic dictator”. Asked about Erdogan’s comments, US President Donald Trump told reporters: “He’s a very good friend of mine, and we’ve worked very well together. I like him a lot.” Turkey has emerged as one of the most outspoken critics of Israel’s assaults on Iran , Gaza and Lebanon . Relations between the two countries sharply deteriorated when Ankara severed trade ties with Israel in May 2024 and joined South africa’s genocide case at the International Court of Justice. Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard suggests Egypt and Turkey are next targets for war Read More » However, while Turkish exports to Israel fell following the embargo, shipments have continued via third countries, totalling $924m in 2025 . Meanwhile, Azerbaijani oil from the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline also continues to flow to Israel through Turkish ports. Tensions between Israel and Turkey escalated further in recent weeks, as leaders exchanged pointed accusations amid a deepening geopolitical rift centred on the ongoing war in Gaza and the competing influence in Syria. In late May, Miki Zohar, the Israeli minister of culture and sports, urged that Turkey should be treated as an “enemy state”, warning it could become Israel’s next major adversary. “We must begin to treat Turkey as an enemy state,” Zohar said. “If Turkey chooses the path of war with us, it will undoubtedly pay a very heavy price. Israel knows how to defend itself and how to harm those who harm it.” The minister added that Ankara would “no doubt pay a huge price” if it went to war with Israel. Israel's genocide in Gaza News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0
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