Annette Young is pleased to welcome Dr. Aaron Y. Zelin, Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He sees Israel’s recent actions in the West Bank and Syria as part of a broader shift in its strategic posture. Since October 7, the Israeli government has become markedly less concerned with international opinion, prioritizing what it defines as its security interests even at the cost of growing diplomatic isolation. Domestic politics matter here. With elections approaching, some recent military activity can also be understood through an electoral lens. But he would distinguish that from Israel’s increasingly confrontational posture toward Turkey, which predates the current election cycle. As Iran and its regional proxy network have been weakened, figures around the Israeli prime minister have increasingly framed Turkey as a potential future strategic challenge.
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