Israel Could Be Drawn Into Future Wars With Turkey and Egypt: Former U.S. Navy Intelligence Analyst Jonathan Pollard Predicts!

WASHINGTON / TEL AVIV: Former U.S. Navy intelligence analyst Jonathan Pollard, who was convicted of spying for Israel, has claimed that Turkey and Egypt could emerge as potential future military adversaries of Israel, warning of what he described as an expanding regional confrontation in the Middle East.

Speaking on a podcast interview, Pollard suggested that after the conflict with Iran, Israel may need to prepare for broader regional tensions. He claimed that Turkey, in particular, could become a more significant strategic challenge, referring to it as “a new Iran” in terms of regional competition.

“I’m not sure things will be as easy with the Turks as they were with the Iranians,” Pollard said, adding that future conflicts could potentially involve both Turkey and Egypt.

He also cautioned Israel against policies in Syria involving Turkish-backed interim authorities, arguing that such developments could increase Turkish proximity to Israeli borders and escalate tensions in the region. His remarks come amid growing Israeli concerns over Turkey’s expanding influence in Syria.

Pollard’s comments align with a broader narrative in some Israeli political and security circles that increasingly frames Turkey as a major regional competitor. Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has also previously described Turkey as a key strategic rival, at times replacing Iran in that role. Israeli security assessments have similarly warned of potential direct friction with Ankara over Syria.

Analysts say that portraying Turkey as a “new Iran” risks intensifying already fragile regional rivalries and could contribute to further escalation.

Reports from early 2025 indicated that an Israeli government-appointed committee warned of possible direct confrontation with Turkey in Syria, describing Ankara as an emerging regional threat to Israeli interests. The report was submitted to senior Israeli leadership, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz.

Concerns have also been raised in Israeli strategic assessments regarding Egypt. Some analyses have pointed to a possible emerging Turkey–Egypt alignment, describing it as part of a broader regional shift that could influence Israel’s security environment. However, Egypt has historically maintained a peace treaty with Israel while also expressing criticism of Israeli military actions in Gaza.

Pollard, a former U.S. Navy intelligence analyst, was sentenced in 1987 to life imprisonment in the United States for passing classified information to Israel, in one of the most damaging espionage cases between two allied nations. He was released on parole in 2015 after serving 30 years.

Following his release, Pollard eventually moved to Israel in 2020 after parole restrictions ended, where he was received by then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and granted Israeli citizenship. Since settling in Israel, he has aligned himself with right-wing political circles and has remained a vocal supporter of Israeli hardline positions.

His latest remarks are likely to further fuel debate over regional security dynamics and the evolving geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.