After Iran, Israel is said to be trying to establish Turkey as an enemy

JAKARTA - Israel "cannot live without enemies" and its government is now trying to portray Turkey as an enemy, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Monday.

Tensions between Turkey and Israel have been escalating since the Gaza war broke out following Hamas' cross-border attack on October 7, 2023 in Israel.

The dispute entered a new phase over the weekend after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned US President Donald Trump of "possible provocations and sabotage" that could jeopardize an initial ceasefire deal in the US-Israeli war against Iran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Saturday that Israel would continue to confront Tehran and its regional allies.

"After Iran, Israel cannot live without an enemy," Foreign Minister Fidan said in a television interview with the Anadolu news agency, launching Al Arabiya from AFP (13/4).

"We see that not only the Netanyahu government, but also some opposition figures - although not all - are trying to declare Turkey a new enemy," he explained.

"This is a new development in Israel that has turned into a state strategy," added Foreign Minister Fidan.