The Turkish President has threatened to send his troops to Israel if they attack Lebanon and the Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has called on NATO to expel Turkey over Recep Yayyip Erdogan’s threats.
Katz has urgently called on “all NATO members” to engage with Turkey and call for the “condemnation” of the threats made against Israel.
The Middle East is a tinder box and is ready to explode as the region is close to all out war with Israel and the Iranian backed militant group Hezbollah.
Erdogan has consistently hit out at Jerusalem over their attacks inside Gaza which has seen tens of thousands of innocent Palestinians killed.
Erdogan warned that he might send his troops to Israel, he said, “We need to be very strong so that Israel cannot do these ridiculous things to Palestine. Just as we entered Karabakh, just as we entered Libya, we can do something similar to them.”
Over the weekend Hezbollah was accused of firing a missile which killed 12 Israeli children in the Golan Heights.
The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has “vowed” a strong response, however sources have warned that given the delay Israel could be preparing for a detailed and complex military operation on Hezbollah.
ne intelligence source told the Daily Mirror: “It is unusual for Israel to take this amount of time to respond – and that indicates a much bigger military action.
“This could be very complex and it also may be the reason for Netanyahu’s visit to the States, to let them know what Israel has planned for Hezbollah.
“The attack on the Druze village at the weekend may have made that response even more expedient, possibly even bringing it forward.”
Dr. Alon Liel, who is the former Foreign Ministry director and former Israeli ambassador to Turkey, has warned of a Turkish invasion.
Speaking to Gadi Ness, Dr Liel said, “He is hinting that he may try to increase military assistance to help the Palestinians in their fight, both Hamas and those fighting in the West Bank.”
The Jerusalem Post report that Dr. Liel added, “He previously attempted this when he set up a headquarters in Turkey for them, intending possibly to conduct military operations, smuggle weapons, and transfer money in order to purchase weapons. It is unlikely that Erdogan, who is known to act irrationally, would send Turkish soldiers to invade Israel.
“I believe we should take him very seriously, as he has followed through on many of his other threats, such as halting trade with Israel. He is already trying to help the Palestinians, sending casualties to hospitals in Turkey, and certainly finding ways to transfer money to them.
“In my opinion, what he will try to do is strengthen the forces fighting against us either through sending money or smuggling across the Egyptian border. By the way, he has made significant improvements in relations with Egypt, including smuggling to the West Bank and Jerusalem. He has always had a presence in Jerusalem, even if indirectly.”
Dr. Liel added, “If something significant happens in Lebanon, Erdogan sees any Israeli entry into Lebanon as halfway towards him. He could send forces to Lebanon; he has done this in the past, including sending destroyers and combat ships, to Lebanon’s territorial waters.”
He continued, “By the way, if we were in a proper diplomatic position, we would need to sever relations with him. However, there is a significant weakness in our diplomacy; we cannot make him pay a price for statements alone, so he is effectively exploiting the situation.”
