I do not think there is anyone who does not know that Mossad, the Israeli spy agency, is considered, if not the top, then one of the two top spy agencies in the world. Even their American and British counterparts, according to numerous articles and books on the subject, are calling for Mossad to work together to solve thorny problems.
So when Mossad speaks, according to the old ad, the world listens.
And when its former commander states that Mossad considers that “the real danger to the region comes from Turkey and not from Iran,” then we must pay special attention to his words.
What does this mean in practice? What does it mean that the number one enemy of stability and peace in the region is not Iran, as almost all of us have been led to believe, but Turkey?
There are two opposite but interrelated connections.
One negative and one positive.
Negative – almost goosebump-inducing – because Mossad confirms what some of us have consistently argued for many years: That Erdogan has been systematically spreading an expansionist offensive strategy, which he has devised since the beginning of his career, of reviving the Ottoman Empire to some degree to its pre-“sick man of Europe” days (before it was forced to leave those positions).
And he continues spreading this strategy after first securing complete control of the country, strengthening the economy which has allowed it to significantly increase its military spending, investing in technology, and especially military and cyber technology, and now expanding on from Syria and the Kurds over to – listen to this – Libya.
But it is also positive, because now with this knowledge of Turkey's plans, the surrounding countries, but also the large western countries can cooperate – officially or not – to face the danger Turkey poses and to prevent the Balkanization of the region.
It is also particularly important that Israel recognizes that it is more at risk from Turkey than from Iran. But it is also important for another reason: Beyond its recognized power, Israel can help inform international public opinion and governments – such as the United States.
Israel can convince them that they need to stop Erdogan now, while there is still time.
Because if, as President Trump stated last Sunday on Fox News, Erdogan does not listen to any other leader but Trump now, regarding his hostile actions against Greece, tomorrow, he may not listen to anyone at all.
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PS: I would like to thank the management of Estia, the oldest newspaper in Athens and probably the most authoritative, which republished my editorial entitled: "Dialogue from the Trump-Macron Talk” starting on its front page.