TEL AVIV (Realist English). Relations between Israel and Turkey have little chance of improving in the foreseeable future and are likely to remain tense as long as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan remains in power, Israeli political and public figure Benny Briskin, a former adviser to the Israeli prime minister, told Realist News Agency in an interview.
According to Briskin, the core problem in Israeli–Turkish relations is not short-term political circumstances but Erdogan’s prolonged hold on power in Ankara. He argued that years of virtually unchecked rule have distorted the Turkish leader’s perception of reality and fostered what he described as dangerous imperial illusions.
“Over time, he begins to believe in the revival of the Ottoman Empire and in the gathering of so-called ‘Turkish’ lands,” Briskin said. “These ideas have little to do with common sense. The real danger is that he appears to genuinely believe in them.”
On the economic front, Briskin acknowledged that a certain level of trade between Israel and Turkey is likely to persist. However, he noted that volumes have fallen sharply compared with the period before the war in Gaza. At the same time, he said, Ankara’s open political support for Israel’s adversaries makes any discussion of normalization meaningless.
Briskin stressed that Israel’s position is particularly uncompromising regarding the potential involvement of Turkish forces in any future stabilization mission in Gaza.
“This is an ultimatum,” he said. “Under no circumstances is Israel prepared to allow even a single Turkish soldier to be present in Gaza.”
He also cited Turkey’s growing military and political activity in Syria as an additional source of tension, arguing that it undermines regional stability and further reduces the prospects for any future agreements between Jerusalem and Ankara.
Humanitarian, tourism and transport ties have also collapsed, according to Briskin. Turkey, once a top holiday destination for Israelis, has effectively disappeared from Israel’s tourism map. Travel flows have shifted toward Greece, Cyprus, Georgia and other destinations. Israelis have largely stopped transiting through Turkey and using Turkish airlines, leading to a near-freeze in air links between the two countries.
Briskin said the loss of Israeli tourism and transit traffic has dealt a noticeable blow to Turkey’s economy, but has failed to soften Ankara’s stance. In response, he said, Israel will continue to deepen cooperation with regional partners, particularly Greece and Cyprus, including in the military and aviation sectors.
“I don’t see a positive scenario ahead,” Briskin concluded. “Israel will do everything necessary to protect itself from potential provocations.”
