Tensions between Israel and Turkey: The Dispute Over Jerusalem’s Status and the “Neo-Ottoman” Policy

Relations between Israel and Turkey have entered a new phase of diplomatic crisis following statements by Turkish officials regarding the status of Jerusalem. The escalation was triggered by remarks made by Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi regarding the “liberation of Jerusalem” and the city’s possible return to Turkish influence. This was reported by the Greek publication Vima Orthodoxias.

The Israeli response was immediate. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a strong statement, emphasizing that Jerusalem is the undisputed capital of Israel. Katz directly criticized the “neo-Ottoman narrative” promoted by the current Turkish leadership and reminded that “the Ottoman Empire will never return.”

Geostrategic analysts interviewed by Vima Orthodoxias believe that this incident is not a random episode but reflects deep geopolitical contradictions in the Eastern Mediterranean. Greek international relations expert Konstantinos Filis notes that Ankara systematically attempts to position itself as the chief defender of the Muslim world, using issues of high symbolic significance. For his part, Israeli analyst Eyal Zisser believes that Tel Aviv no longer views Turkish rhetoric as mere domestic propaganda, but rather as part of a long-term strategy to alter the regional balance of power.

Israel Katz’s public appeal to the Turkish leadership, in which he mentioned the legacy of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, caused a particular stir. According to experts, this was done to highlight the contrast between the secular state established by the founder of modern Turkey and the current political course. Katz also added on social media that “Jerusalem is not Constantinople,” and Israel is not a “crumbling Crusader empire,” emphasizing the country’s ability to defend its sovereignty.

The situation is being closely monitored in Athens. Greece, which has a strategic partnership with Israel and its own interests in the Mediterranean energy sector, views Turkish rhetoric through the lens of regional security. Experts agree that the verbal conflict between Jerusalem and Ankara marks the beginning of a new period of tension, where history, religion, and geopolitics are intertwined in a complex and explosive knot.