Former Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard has suggested that Türkiye and Egypt could become Israel’s next military adversaries, warning that a wider regional conflict may follow Israel’s confrontation with Iran.
Speaking on a recent podcast hosted by Israeli media outlet Arutz Sheva, Pollard said Israel should prepare for future wars beyond Iran.
“We have to be prepared for the next war, which will probably be against Türkiye and Egypt. The storm is coming,” Pollard said. He added that a potential conflict with Türkiye could prove more challenging than Israel’s confrontation with Iran, stating, “I’m not so sure that we will have as easy a time with the Turks as we’ve had with the Iranians.”
Pollard also argued against allowing the Turkish-backed transitional government in Syria to regain control of areas in southern Syria currently occupied by Israeli forces. According to Pollard, such a move would effectively place Turkish influence directly on Israel’s border.
His remarks come amid growing concern within some Israeli political and security circles regarding Türkiye’s expanding regional influence, particularly in Syria. In recent months, several Israeli figures have increasingly portrayed Türkiye as a major strategic threat.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has previously argued that Türkiye, with support from Qatar, is replacing Iran as Israel’s primary long-term challenge. Israeli analysts and security officials have also warned of the possibility of direct tensions or confrontation between Israel and Türkiye over developments in Syria.
In January 2025, an Israeli government-appointed committee reportedly warned of a potential future confrontation with Türkiye in Syria, describing Ankara as a “new regional threat” to Israeli interests. The report was submitted to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich as part of Israel’s long-term security planning.
Egypt has also featured more prominently in recent Israeli security discussions. An Israeli analysis published in February warned of closer cooperation between Türkiye and Egypt, describing the emerging relationship as a “Sunni ring” surrounding Israel. The assessment reflected concerns in Tel Aviv over increasing coordination between the two countries, both of which have strongly criticised Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Pollard’s comments have attracted attention due to his controversial history and continued prominence in Israeli public discourse. A former US Navy intelligence analyst, Pollard was sentenced to life imprisonment in the United States in 1987 after passing classified American intelligence to Israel in one of the most significant espionage cases between the two allies. He was released on parole in 2015 after serving 30 years in prison.
Following the end of his parole restrictions, Pollard moved to Israel in 2020, where he was welcomed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Since settling in Israel, Pollard has become a vocal supporter of the Israeli right and has advocated a number of hardline policies, including the annexation of Palestinian territories.
