An Israeli official responded to criticism from US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack, asserting that Barrack is acting out of personal interest and that his comments do not reflect the Trump administration's position on Syria. The official also dismissed Turkish President Erdogan's rhetoric as empty.
An Israeli official on Sunday morning (Aug 23) dismissed US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack as acting out of personal interest, stating that Barrack's comments do not reflect the Trump administration's position on developments in Syria, according to The Zioneer. The official also dismissed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's rhetoric as hollow.
The official's remarks escalate Jerusalem's response to Barrack's public criticism of Israeli actions in Syria. The thread began on Saturday at 17:48 Jerusalem, when Barrack said Israel passed inaccurate intelligence about Turkish plans and suggested the election period impaired Israeli judgment. Defense Minister Israel Katz responded that the IDF had recommended the strike based on clear intelligence, and accused Barrack of contradicting President Trump's stance on the Golan Heights. Later that day at 17:48, Israel Hayom journalist Ariel Kahana reported that Israeli assessments found Barrack does not represent Trump's position on Turkish activity in Syria, and that no senior US official had criticized Israel. Jerusalem had pre-updated the administration on its intelligence and red lines regarding Turkey.
The official's dismissal of Erdogan's rhetoric aligns with Jerusalem's broader concern over Turkish ambitions in Syria and Lebanon, as The Zioneer has reported. President Trump stated in June that a direct Israel-Turkey clash would not happen while he is president, describing Erdogan as a "great leader" and emphasizing personal diplomacy.
What remains open: The Trump administration has not publicly distanced itself from Barrack's statements, and it is unclear whether the ambassador's views carry any weight in Washington.
6 developments
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- DevelopingFormer Trump envoy says his Hezbollah tweet signals major policy shift toward Iran
- StrongSyria condemns Colombia's recognition of Israeli sovereignty over Golan Heights
- DevelopingFormer Ambassador Oren: Trump's approach shifts daily, Israel won't concede core demands
Source and signal
- Open-source intake