Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak strongly criticized Benjamin Netanyahu’s deliberate escalation of tensions with Türkiye. Barak described the Israeli prime minister’s approach as “irresponsible and foolish.”
In a post on the U.S.-based social media platform X on Wednesday, Barak wrote, “It is difficult to decide which is greater.”
Barak argued that Netanyahu was seeking to enter the elections amid a series of security tensions that would heighten public anxiety, and said the approach was driven by a political motive.
He said problems with Ankara could be resolved
Barak said Türkiye was not like Iran or Syria under the Assad government, and that no strategic problem with Ankara was beyond resolution. He said the problems could be resolved, eased or postponed over the long term through discreet contacts coordinated with the United States.
Barak argued that Netanyahu had completely lost control. Saying that the Israeli prime minister was focused on protecting his political survival rather than the country’s security, Barak likened the approach to that of an addicted gambler acting amid failure to achieve war aims and an expected political defeat.
He highlighted the damage to Israel’s regional standing
Barak said Netanyahu’s approach had seriously alarmed the few allies and friends Israel still had in the world and the region, adding that it would take a long time to repair the resulting security and diplomatic damage.
Barak argued that there was also no point in taking new irresponsible steps that could backfire.