Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar responded to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's accusations that Israeli actions in Syria are among the greatest threats to the country's stability, rejecting Ankara's criticism of Israel's defensive measures.
Fidan had earlier said that Israel’s operations in Syria were destabilizing the country and posed one of the most serious threats to its stability, arguing that such actions undermine regional security. In his remarks, Fidan warned that “Israel’s continued military interventions are pushing Syria further into instability" and claimed that “no country can justify actions that deepen chaos under the pretext of security."
He also said that Israel’s policies risk escalating tensions across the region, stating that “what is happening in Syria today is a direct consequence of unilateral military actions that ignore international law and regional sovereignty."
"Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan accuses Israel of destabilizing Syria for taking the minimum measures necessary to protect Israeli citizens from attacks," Sa'ar said.
Sa'ar accused Turkey of hypocrisy over its criticism of Israel, saying: "These are the same Turkish leaders who have spent decades violating the sovereignty of Syria while cynically lecturing others on international law."
According to Sa'ar, Turkey occupies five percent of Syria and intends to establish military bases inside the country in order to undermine Israel's security.
" In comparison, Israel holds a buffer zone that comprises just one-tenth of one percent of Syrian territory," Sa'ar said, explaining that the area is intended to protect Israel from terrorist groups seeking to attack it from southern Syria.
Sa'ar said Syrian militants violated the 1974 Israel-Syria Separation of Forces Agreement and entered the buffer zone in December 2024.
He also criticized Turkey's policies under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, citing military campaigns against Kurdish forces across Syria and Iraq, threats against neighboring states, Turkey's continued occupation of 36 percent of Cyprus and international criticism of its human rights record.
"What Minister Fidan wants is for Israel to stop protecting itself from threats to its security. This will not happen," Sa'ar said.
"Israel will continue to take all measures necessary to defend its citizens against any threat."