Haaretz Criticizes Netanyahu’s Syria Strike, Warns of Israeli-Turkish Confrontation
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, the Hebrew newspaper Haaretz has criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his decision to attack targets in Syria, warning that escalating tensions could draw Israel into a meaningless confrontation with Turkey. The newspaper wrote in its Sunday editorial that while analysts were contemplating whether Netanyahu would opt for war in Gaza or Lebanon before the elections, or perhaps ignite the West Bank, he chose to take action in northern Syria, expanding a front with Turkey. The report indicated that Israel’s anti-Turkish rhetoric in recent months led to an attack on a military airport in northern Syria on Tuesday. The newspaper referenced Netanyahu’s claim that the strike ostensibly targeted Turkey’s expanding presence in the region. Ankara and Washington have refuted Israel’s assertion, accusing the Israeli prime minister of acting for electoral purposes. On Tuesday, Israeli aircraft carried out eight strikes on the runway of the Abu al-Duhur military airport in Idlib province, northwestern Syria, damaging its infrastructure. Following the attack, sources within the Turkish Ministry of Defense confirmed that no Turkish military missions were present at the Abu al-Duhur airbase, either before or during the Israeli strike. Haaretz highlighted the warning from Thomas Barry, the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria and Iraq, that the Israeli strike could have escalated into a direct military confrontation between Israel and Turkey, suggesting this might have been Israel’s true objective. Barry emphasized that Turkey has no intention of attacking Israel or engaging in military conflict with it, cautioning that Israel might act irrationally due to its election period. Haaretz warned that Israel’s military action occurs at a time when international powers are seeking to stabilize Syria, while Israel is acting in a manner contrary to this logic. Consequently, Israel is distancing itself not only from Syria but from all other actors involved there, particularly the United States. The newspaper stated: While Netanyahu boasted about a specific operation in northern Syria, a dangerous and meaningless operation, new alliances are forming against him, and Israel is not part of them. Security cannot be achieved and threats neutralized solely through bombing. This is not a substitute for diplomacy and prudent policy, something that has become meaningless in the Netanyahu era. Israel must heed the warnings of Envoy Barry and be careful not to engage with Turkey. After the attack on Abu al-Duhur airbase, Syria, in two identical letters to the United Nations and the UN Security Council, declared that Israel’s ongoing attacks, including airstrikes, transgressions, and kidnappings, hinder stabilization efforts and threaten the region with further tensions. The Israeli regime has expanded its attacks across Syria since December 2024.
