Turkey’s support for a hostile Sunni Islamist force in Damascus may pose a greater threat to Israel than Iran in Syria, according to an Israeli government panel. The “Committee for the Evaluation of the Defence Establishment Budget and the Balance of Power” warns that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is providing military and security assistance to the new Syrian caretaker government.
The committee, chaired by former National Security Council head Yaakov Nagel, notes that the origins of the rebels and their leaders should not be overlooked. The Sunni force, which could refuse to recognize Israel’s existence, may pose a significant threat due to its central control in Syria. The committee also raises concerns about the risk of rearmament in Lebanon and Syria.
The panel warns that Turkish involvement in Syria could accelerate the rearmament of Syria and increase tensions between Israel and Turkey, as well as Egypt. The committee recommends a policy of “eliminating threats entirely and maximising response” to neutralize any attempts to build a threat to Israel across the border.
Source: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkish-backed-syria-bigger-threat-iran-says-israeli-govt-panel