US Ambassador Tom Barrack Dismisses Israel-Turkey Expansion Fears as Political Rhetoric
US Ambassador Tom Barrack stated at the Doha Forum that mutual fears of territorial expansion between Israel and Turkey are driven by politics rather than reality, emphasizing that regional solutions must be diplomatic.
US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria and Iraq Tom Barrack addressed the ongoing tensions between Israel and Turkey during a panel at the Doha Forum in Qatar, arguing that mutual concerns over territorial expansion are largely driven by political messaging rather than actual plans.
Speaking to CNN anchor Becky Anderson, Barrack noted the exaggerated rhetoric found in regional media. "If you wake up in Istanbul, pick up the newspapers and read every morning, you see Greater Israel stretching from Vienna to the Maldives," Barrack said. "If you wake up in Tel Aviv, you read every morning about the Ottoman Empire 2.0, stretching over the exact same territory. A lot of that is politics and not substantive content."
Addressing claims regarding Israel's territorial ambitions, the US ambassador clarified that he does not believe a plan to establish Greater Israel exists, describing the notion as an illusion manufactured by political opponents.
Barrack also touched upon the aftermath of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks and Israel's subsequent security measures. "Following October 7, Israel had the right to readjust what took place on its borders. That takes time," he emphasized.
The ambassador asserted that the solution to regional tensions must be political rather than military, noting that Middle Eastern nations must learn to cooperate. Regarding Syria, Barrack stated that "Israel is tired of the suffering and tired of what it is going through itself."
