Tel Aviv, May 30, 2026 (Agencies) – Former Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard has suggested that Turkiye and Egypt could become Israel’s next military adversaries, reflecting a growing narrative within some Israeli political and security circles that increasingly portrays Turkiye as a future strategic threat.
Speaking on an Arutz Sheva podcast, Pollard said Israel should prepare for broader regional conflicts following its confrontation with Iran. “I’m not so sure that we will have as easy a time with the Turks as we’ve had with the Iranians,” he said. “We have to be prepared for the next war, which will probably be against Turkiye and Egypt. The storm is coming.”
Pollard also argued against allowing the Turkish-backed transitional government in Syria to regain control of southern territories currently occupied by Israeli forces, claiming that such a move would place Turkish influence directly on Israel’s border. His remarks come amid increasing concern in Israel over Ankara’s growing regional influence and its role in Syria.
The comments align with a broader debate within Israeli political and security circles. Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has previously described Turkiye, with support from Qatar, as replacing Iran as Israel’s primary strategic challenge. Israeli security analysts have also warned of the possibility of direct confrontation with Ankara in Syria.
In January 2025, an Israeli government-appointed committee reportedly warned of a potential direct confrontation with Turkiye in Syria, describing Ankara as a growing regional threat to Israeli interests. The report was submitted to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich as part of Israel’s long-term security planning.
Pollard remains one of the most controversial figures in U.S.-Israeli relations. A former U.S. Navy intelligence analyst, he was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1987 after being convicted of passing classified American intelligence to Israel in one of the most damaging espionage cases between the two allies. He was released on parole in 2015 after serving 30 years in prison.
Successive Israeli governments campaigned for his release, and Netanyahu personally welcomed Pollard upon his arrival in Israel in 2020 following the expiration of his parole restrictions. Since settling in Israel, Pollard has become closely associated with the Israeli far right and has publicly supported the expansion of Israeli settlements and the annexation of Gaza.
Pollard has also drawn criticism for urging Jews living abroad to prioritize loyalty to Israel and for encouraging intelligence-gathering activities in support of the Israeli state, comments that have generated controversy both in Israel and internationally.