Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently declared, “We expect from anybody who wants normalization or peace with us that they not participate in efforts steered by forces or ideologies that want the opposite of peace.” The remark was widely understood as a pointed reference to Saudi Arabia’s deepening engagement with Turkey and Qatar. Of the two, Turkey represents the more consequential concern for Israel: it is a major regional power, a NATO member, and—according to multiple reports—in advanced exploratory discussions about joining the emerging Saudi–Pakistan mutual defense framework.

For Netanyahu, this evolving alignment presents a layered strategic and political dilemma shaped by domestic constraints, shifting regional alignments, and the central role of the United States in shaping the Gaza endgame.

At the heart of this challenge lies a balancing act between two incompatible imperatives. On one hand, Netanyahu must demonstrate to Israeli voters—and to key coalition partners—that he is resisting the growing influence of Turkey and Qatar in Gaza’s political and security future. Both states now occupy prominent roles in the emerging post-war diplomatic architecture, including participation in the newly established Board of Peace and, more significantly, in the Executive Board tasked with overseeing ceasefire implementation, disarmament pathways, and reconstruction oversight.

While these bodies remain politically fragile and their ultimate authority contested, they nonetheless represent the UN mandated plan for the stabilization of Gaza. There is no Plan B. Their composition alone is enough to trigger deep unease within Israel. Turkish involvement is especially sensitive: Ankara has long been one of Israel’s most vocal regional critics, and its political and logistical ties to Hamas are well documented. Qatar, meanwhile, has for years served as both a financial conduit into Gaza and a mediator with Hamas leadership, which it continues to host.

Israeli public opinion—particularly within Netanyahu’s political base—remains broadly hostile to any arrangement that grants Turkey or Qatar a meaningful role in shaping Gaza’s future. Skepticism toward international oversight mechanisms is equally entrenched, especially when such mechanisms are perceived as constraining Israeli freedom of action. For Netanyahu, signaling resistance to Turkish and Qatari........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)