A former Mossad official ruled out a military confrontation between Israel and Turkey, despite what he described as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s long-term strategy to expand regional influence.
Former head of the Mossad counter-terrorism division, Oded Eilam, said in an interview with Israeli radio station 103 FM that war between the two countries is "not imminent," adding that neither side wants a military confrontation, "especially at the present time."
He explained that Erdogan is not acting out of nostalgia for the Ottoman era, but rather implementing a "systematic and multi-year plan" based, in his estimation, on what he called the "gradual annexation" of areas throughout the region, including Libya, Somalia, Africa and the Gaza Strip.
He added that Erdoğan would not jeopardize this plan by engaging in a confrontation with Israel, which he described as one of the strongest countries in the region, considering the possibility of war between the two sides "extremely slim, almost nonexistent."
The former Israeli official said that Israel acted correctly when it drew a "clear line" for Turkey, accusing Ankara of violating the status quo by attempting to introduce an advanced system that, he claimed, would affect the Israeli Air Force's ability to fly toward Iran.
He added that Erdogan "is not seeking to fight a battle," and that he follows a strategy of advancing two steps and then retreating one step, but at the same time he is aware of Israel's strength.
Elam noted that Turkey possesses, in his estimation, "the strongest naval force in the Mediterranean," which he believes could pose a threat to Europe, particularly in areas beyond Bulgaria and Greece.
He also addressed the refugee issue, which he said Erdoğan uses in his relations with Europe, stating that Turkey receives between $200 and $250 million annually to keep refugees within its borders and prevent their flow into Europe.
In conclusion, Elam criticized the US ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, describing him as "Erdogan's representative in Washington," and mocked his statements regarding Turkish planes flying in the airspace, saying that it "only needs to be in a Hollywood movie."
