Poll Shows 68% of Israelis View Turkey as a Dangerous Security Threat
A new JCFA poll shows 68% of Israelis view Turkey as a dangerous security threat, with 60% supporting military action to block its military bases in Syria.
A new poll reveals that 68% of Israelis view Turkey as a dangerous security threat to the country, driven by concerns over its growing military presence and ambitions in the region.
Public Perception and Regional Threats
The survey, conducted between September 2 and 4, 2026, by Lazar Research for the Jerusalem Center for Foreign and Affairs (JCFA) among a representative sample of 703 Jewish and Arab respondents aged 18 and over, highlights growing anxiety regarding Ankara's actions. Specifically, 68% of the general public and 77% of the Jewish public agree that Turkey constitutes a hazardous security threat.
Furthermore, 60% of respondents support military action to prevent the establishment of Turkish infrastructure and bases in Syria. Meanwhile, 70% believe that Israel must establish clear red lines for Turkey and engage the United States through diplomatic channels to curb Ankara's regional footprint.
Prioritizing National Security Challenges
Despite the high level of concern regarding Turkey, the issue ranks relatively low when respondents are asked to grade overall threats facing the incoming government, scoring 2.8 out of 6—behind Iran, Hamas, and other prominent security challenges.
The JCFA emphasizes that this disparity is alarming: while the public recognizes Turkey as a dangerous adversary, it does not yet perceive it as the most urgent crisis, potentially narrowing the window of opportunity to counter Turkish entrenchment in Syria before it becomes a permanent reality on the ground.
«The public identifies Turkey as a dangerous threat, but does not yet rank it as urgent. The window of opportunity to address Turkish entrenchment may be right now, before the threat becomes a fait accompli.»
When evaluating direct threats to the incoming government, the nuclear program and ballistic missile development led the ranking with a score of 4.3 out of 6, closely followed by the resurgence of Hamas in Gaza at 4.2. Among Jewish respondents, both threats tied for the top spot at 4.4. In contrast, Arab respondents placed Jewish extremist activities in Judea and Samaria first at 4.1, followed by the Iranian threat at 4.0.
Foreign Policy Priorities
In the realm of foreign policy, respondents equally prioritized two major initiatives, each scoring 3.8: the formation of a counter-regional alliance against the axis comprising Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, and the expansion of the Abraham Accords to additional nations. These were followed by concerns over the rise of anti-Israel and antisemitic forces in the United States, scoring 3.7.
