Former Israeli diplomat: Israel must safeguard its strategic relationship with Azerbaijan

Published: 2025-12-25 13:49

"The diplomatic crisis between Israel and Turkey is reaching new heights, against the backdrop of a trilateral summit held in Jerusalem by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alongside the leaders of Greece and Cyprus — a meeting that sent an implicit message to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan," reports Ynet, the most visited Israeli news website.

Alon Liel, a former director-general of Israel’s Foreign Ministry and onetime chargé d’affaires in Ankara, told Ynet that "Turkey is significantly bolstering its air capabilities out of fear of an Israeli strike." He added that "the formation of a military alliance inevitably prompts counteralliances," arguing that Ankara is likely to deepen ties with Azerbaijan and expand its presence in Syria.

Liel also stressed that "Israel must safeguard its strategic relationship with Azerbaijan," noting that Turkey has already blocked Azerbaijani plans to deploy forces to Gaza.

By Azerbaijani-Israeli Alliance Global News