Netanyahu Casts Turkey as Israel's New Villain Ahead of Tight Election

On Tuesday, Israeli airstrikes targeted a facility in northern Syria, located near the Turkish border. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, currently in a challenging re-election campaign, has heightened tensions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, framing Turkey as a new adversary. Netanyahu accused Turkey of attempting to create a military foothold in the region and, after the nation disregarded Israel’s warnings, stated: “We made sure they understood it more clearly.” With elections set for October 27, Netanyahu's campaign features billboards of various leaders, including Erdogan, stating, “They want Netanyahu to lose.” Erdogan has vocally opposed Israel's extensive operations in Gaza following Hamas's unprecedented attack on October 7, 2023. Relations have worsened due to Israel's forceful actions against Turkish activist flotillas aiming to deliver aid to Gaza. Unlike nations such as Iran, Turkey has robust allies, being a NATO member, and Erdogan maintains a strong rapport with US President Donald Trump, whose ambassador in Ankara criticized Israel's actions.