Netanyahu pivots to anti-Türkiye rhetoric as Likud slides in polls
13:32, 22/08/2026, SaturdayU: Update: 13:39, 22/08/2026, Saturday
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File photoIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has shifted his election campaign toward anti-Türkiye rhetoric after US pressure forced him to halt military operations against Iran and Lebanon, with polls showing his Likud party hemorrhaging support ahead of October elections.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing a corruption trial as the first sitting premier to stand in the dock, alongside an International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued on Nov. 21, 2024, for alleged war crimes in Gaza — where Israeli forces have killed more than 73,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children. Washington's pressure forced him to halt attacks on Iran and Lebanon earlier this year, undermining his self-styled image as a strong leader and drawing accusations from across the Israeli political spectrum that he had sacrificed national security for political survival.
Former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman lambasted the ceasefire with Lebanon, saying Netanyahu was "Not a prime minister, but a puppet." Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir went further, publicly urging Netanyahu to defy US President Donald Trump: "You said a strong prime minister says 'yes' to the US president when possible and 'no' when necessary. Now is the time to say 'no' to our friend, President Trump," Ben-Gvir said. Opinion polls published by Channel 13 on Aug. 19 show Likud plummeting from 32 seats to 23, with Netanyahu's right-wing and ultra-Orthodox coalition partners winning only 51 seats total — far below the 61 required to form a government.
Anti-Türkiye turn in campaign rhetoric
With military options against Iran and Lebanon closed off by Washington, Netanyahu and senior ministers have pivoted to anti-Türkiye rhetoric as a central election theme ahead of the Oct. 27 vote. Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli claimed in June that Israel would "sooner or later enter a war with Syria," declaring that "Türkiye and Syria are far more disturbing developments than Iran" — a stance echoed by Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, who frequently targets Türkiye and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkish-language social media posts. Energy Minister Eli Cohen issued a veiled threat last month, stating: "If Türkiye establishes a base in Syria, we will establish one too."
The campaign has extended beyond ministerial statements to state-affiliated media, with Channel 14 broadcasting reports claiming unauthorized renovations at Türkiye's Consulate General in East Jerusalem — which represents Palestinian interests — and i24 airing a documentary alleging Turkish institutions are seeking control of East Jerusalem through humanitarian aid and cultural activities. Political commentators have noted the timing of Israel's Aug. 18 attack on the Abu al-Duhur air base in Syria's Idlib province, with
Haaretz
analyst Jonathan Lis observing: "As Israel's October elections approach, it is highly suspicious that Netanyahu would want an escalation of tensions with Türkiye and Syria, especially as the Trump administration encourages calm between the parties." Democrats party leader Yair Golan accused Netanyahu of making an "arrogant and dangerous" move that raised tensions with Ankara while deepening Israel's rift with Washington.
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