Turkiye says Israel using security as pretext to acquire more land

ANKARA: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Saturday accused Israel of invoking security concerns as a justification for territorial expansion, saying the policy went beyond self-defence and reflected a broader drive to seize more land.

Speaking in English during a panel discussion at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Fidan said “Israel is not after its own security. Israel is after more land. Security is being used by the Netanyahu government as an excuse to occupy more land”, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Fidan said Israel had built what he described as an illusion at the international level by presenting its actions as being solely about protecting itself. He said that, particularly in recent years, it had become evident that the matter extended beyond that claim.

According to Fidan, Israel’s actions spanned Palestinian territories including Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and were now extending toward Lebanon and Syria. He said this reflected an onward occupation and expansionism in the region and this has to stop.

The Turkish foreign minister said Israel needed to recognise that peaceful coexistence in the region depended on allowing other countries to enjoy their own security and prosperity.

Remarks at Antalya forum

Fidan made the comments at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, where he addressedthe regional situation and criticised what he described as Israel’s expanding occupation. His remarks focused on the argument that security was being used as a cover for a wider territorial agenda.

He said the international narrative surrounding Israel had for some time been shaped in a way that suggested its conduct was purely defensive. However, he argued that developments on the ground showed a different reality.

In his remarks, Fidan linked Israeli actions in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem with developments involving Lebanon and Syria, presenting them as part of the same pattern. He said the continuation of this course should end.

Fidan also said that a stable and peaceful regional order required mutual security, rather than one state pursuing its interests at the expense of others. He said Israel could only live peacefully in the region if other countries were also allowed to live in security.

Call for an end to expansion

The Turkish minister’s comments amounted to a direct criticism of the Netanyahu government’s regional policy. He said security was being cited as an excuse for occupation and that the result was continued expansion into more territory.

His remarks underscored Turkiye’s position that the issue was not limited to immediate security concerns but involved a wider pattern of occupation. Fidan said this pattern was visible across Palestinian lands and in areas beyond them.

The comments came during a public forum appearance and were delivered as part of a broader discussion on regional affairs. In that setting, Fidan reiterated his view that the current trajectory was unsustainable and should be halted.