16.10.2025 18:46
Israeli retired general Gershon Hacohen, in an interview with Channel 7, described the new security process in the Middle East as the "Jerusalem War," stating, "We are facing Turkey; this is an existential struggle." Hacohen noted that President Erdoğan's firm stance on the issue of Jerusalem has changed Israel's security calculations.
Israeli retired general Gershon Hacohen stated in an interview with Israel-based Channel 7 television that a new security era has begun in the Middle East, describing this process as the "War of Jerusalem." Hacohen emphasized Turkey's influence in the region, saying, "We are moving towards a new war, the War of Jerusalem. We face Turkey. This is an existential war whose dangers we must recognize."
TURKEY AFFECTS STRATEGIC BALANCE
Hacohen pointed to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's resolute stance on East Jerusalem, stating, "For them, Damascus is actually a stepping stone to Jerusalem." According to the Israeli general, Ankara's influence in the region is directly changing Israel's security strategies. Hacohen argued that Turkey is affecting the strategic balance not only in Syria but also along the Jerusalem and West Bank line. He noted that Ankara's military and diplomatic moves have reinforced its position as a "game-changing power" in the region.
"THE U.S. POLICY HAS STRENGTHENED TURKEY"
Addressing the balances in Syria and noting that former U.S. President Donald Trump's policies have increased Turkey's regional influence, Hacohen stated, "Trump is leaving the Syrian arena to Erdoğan, and this situation strengthens Ankara's regional control." According to Hacohen, this U.S. approach has expanded Turkey's geopolitical power while complicating the security equation for Israel.
"JERUSALEM IS AT THE CENTER OF THE ORDER"
The retired general stated that Jerusalem is at the center of the new geopolitical equation in the Middle East, emphasizing that Turkey is now in the leading role of this process. Hacohen argued that international initiatives aimed at establishing a Palestinian state also pose a strategic risk for Israel.
"THIS IS A SECURITY STRUGGLE"
Hacohen noted that the increase in Jewish settlements in the West Bank is not only a demographic step but also a security-based one, stating, "This is not a population policy; it is a struggle for existence and security." The general argued that Jewish settlements should be strengthened with rapid housing projects and economic incentives, claiming that these steps would create "strategic depth against Turkey's regional plans."
"TURKEY IS INCREASING ITS POWER IN THE MEDITERRANEAN"
Hacohen also drew attention to Turkey's military and diplomatic presence in the Eastern Mediterranean. He stated that the Turkish navy operates in cooperation with Egypt and has established an effective naval force in Libya, emphasizing that Israel needs to reassess its maritime security strategies. "Turkey's moves in the region are conducted with clever and strategically calculated methods. Therefore, they are difficult to detect from Israel's perspective. If the definition of war is clear, preparation becomes easier; uncertainty complicates intervention," he said.
"ANKARA IS BREAKING REGIONAL PATTERNS"
Experts indicate that Hacohen's statements reveal the concerns created on the Israeli front by Ankara's increasing influence in the region. It is assessed that Turkey's active diplomacy and military moves in recent years have changed balances not only in Gaza but also along the Jerusalem axis. Hacohen's remarks about the "War of Jerusalem" once again highlighted that Turkey's role in the newly shaped power equation in the Middle East can no longer be ignored.