The Nagel Committee, established by the instructions of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has claimed that the Tel Aviv administration should be prepared for a “possible war” with Turkey, Anadolu reports.
According to the news of the newspaper “The Jerusalem Post”, in the latest report of the Nagel Committee on the defense budget and security strategy, it is claimed that the Tel Aviv administration should prepare for a direct conflict with Turkey.
The report prepared by the Nagel Committee was presented yesterday to Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
The report claims that Turkey has acted with the ambition to regain its influence from the Ottoman period and that the situation in question could cause increased tensions with Israel and turn into a possible conflict.
The report further claims that there is a risk that Syrian opposition groups could pose a new and powerful threat to Israel’s security by forming an alliance with Turkey and that “the threat emanating from Syria could become even more dangerous than the Iranian threat.”
The report prepared by the Nagel Committee recommended that the defense budget be increased by up to 15 billion shekels (about $4.14 billion) per year over the next 5 years, in order to face “the challenges posed by Turkey” as well as other regional threats.
Regarding the report presented to him, Netanyahu said: “We are witnessing radical changes in the Middle East. Iran has been our greatest threat for a long time, but new powers are entering the arena and we must prepare for unexpected situations. This report provides us with a roadmap to secure Israel’s future.”
After defending the idea that military capabilities should be strengthened in preparation for a possible conflict with Turkey, the report, among other things, highlights that Israel should purchase additional F-15 fighter jets, jet fuel, unmanned aerial vehicles and satellites to strengthen its long-range attack capability.
The report also highlights that the capabilities of air defense systems such as the short-to-medium range “Iron Dome”, the medium-to-long range “David’s Sling” system produced with the US, the “Arrow” systems and the laser-based missile defense system “Iron Beam” should be improved.
On the other hand, the report also emphasizes that despite the possible diplomatic consequences with Jordan, a fortified security barrier should be built along the Jordan Valley, which would mark a significant change in Israel’s defense strategy.