DID Press: Israel’s Channel 12 has published an unusually critical report targeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, claiming his regional role was among the key issues discussed during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent meetings at the White House.
According to the report, Netanyahu raised Turkey’s regional policies and Erdoğan’s influence during high-level talks in Washington. The broadcaster used unusually strong language, describing Erdoğan as an “octopus” extending influence across the Middle East while alleging that he avoids direct military confrontation and seeks to expand Turkey’s position during later stages of regional crises.
The report also questioned Ankara’s role in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, arguing that Turkey was not the sole factor behind Azerbaijan’s military gains and that other dynamics contributed to the outcome.
Channel 12 further examined Turkey’s domestic “Turkey Without Terrorism” policy, alleging that Erdoğan has used the initiative to manage both domestic and international political pressures.
In its concluding assessment, the broadcaster claimed that if Turkey’s political balance were to shift and Erdoğan’s opponents came to power, he could face legal proceedings and potentially imprisonment. The report did not present evidence to support that prediction, and no official response from the Turkish government had been reported at the time of publication.