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Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan intensified his criticism of Israel on Friday, accusing Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu and his governing coalition of deliberately creating foreign crises to serve domestic political interests. He also claimed Israel’s policies pose a growing danger to regional and international security.

Speaking during an appearance on The National’s “On the Record with Hadley Gamble,” Fidan declared, “The policies of Netanyahu’s government are not only a problem for us. His policies and his government are a burden for Israel, a burden for the region, and a burden and threat for international security.”

Asked whether the increasingly hostile rhetoric between Turkey and Israel could ultimately lead to direct military conflict, Fidan downplayed that possibility.

“There is no reason to have an open conflict,” Fidan clarified.

The Turkish foreign minister also argued that although European governments are becoming more aware of what he described as the strategic challenges posed by Israel, they have yet to take meaningful action. He warned that continued interference with Syria’s political development could further destabilize the region.

“We are not sure if Israel wants to see a stable, good, powerful, evolving, developed Syria,” he remarked.

When pressed on whether he believes Israel is actively working to weaken Syria’s new leadership in Damascus, Fidan answered affirmatively.

“When you look at the past and current patterns of the Israeli government towards the regional countries, yes.”

The remarks were Fidan’s second major verbal attack on Israel in recent weeks. In an interview with CNN Türk last week, he asserted that Israel’s current political approach and governing philosophy had “become a burden that humanity can no longer bear.”

He also described Israel as one of “humanity’s common problems” and urged the international community to unite in applying pressure against the Jewish state.

Fidan further suggested that Turkey would not shy away from military confrontation if necessary, stating, “We have no problem with confrontation. If it comes to that, it is not an issue for us.”

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar sharply condemned those remarks, saying, “Turkish FM Hakan Fidan’s sickening words are textbook incitement to genocide.”

“Dehumanizing the Jewish people as an ‘unbearable burden’ is the classic, horrific language of history’s worst eliminationist regimes,” the foreign minister added.

Germany also criticized Fidan’s rhetoric. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul responded by affirming Israel’s security concerns, stating, “Israel faces an ongoing threat from the region and has the right and duty to protect its population.”

Fidan’s latest statements are part of an ongoing series of increasingly hostile comments by senior Turkish officials. Last month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned of possible action against Israel, claiming Israeli military operations in Syria and Lebanon had reached the point where they also threatened Turkey.

Just days before those remarks, Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi declared that Turkey would one day regain control of Yerushalayim.

Relations between Turkey and Israel had been moving toward normalization shortly before Hamas launched its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Since then, however, Turkish leaders—led by Erdogan—have repeatedly denounced Israel and its military campaign.

In March of last year, Erdogan condemned Israel following its strikes on terrorist targets in Gaza, calling the country a “terror state.”

Several months later, Erdogan claimed Netanyahu’s government represented the greatest threat to stability in the Middle East.

In April, prosecutors in Istanbul filed a sweeping indictment against 35 senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, over the Israeli navy’s interception of the “Sumud” flotilla that attempted to reach Gaza in October of last year.

{Matzav.com}

New satellite imagery obtained by CNN has revealed what analysts say could be renewed Iranian efforts to rebuild portions of its nuclear infrastructure, prompting fresh questions about whether Tehran is complying with the terms of its recent agreement with the United States.

CNN’s visual investigation identified new activity during late June and early July at several Iranian missile and nuclear sites. The movements and construction work, particularly around key nuclear facilities, have fueled concerns that Iran may be violating the bilateral memorandum of understanding it signed with the United States on June 17.

The images became available during a brief period when the U.S. government temporarily relaxed restrictions that had prevented commercial satellite companies from distributing imagery of the region. Those limitations have since largely been restored as American military operations resumed.

Among the locations highlighted in the analysis was the Parchin military complex, specifically a facility known as Taleghan 2, which intelligence analysts believe is associated with the storage of specialized explosives used in nuclear weapons development.

Working with the Institute for Science and International Security, CNN compared satellite images taken on June 22 and July 7 and concluded that repair and reconstruction work was underway at the site. According to the report, crews appeared to be repairing damage caused by earlier joint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes.

Satellite imagery also showed activity at the heavily fortified underground complex known as Pickaxe Mountain. Images captured on June 21 revealed a steady stream of vehicles entering and leaving the underground tunnel system while the newly signed agreement between Washington and Tehran remained in effect.

CNN said both Iranian officials and the U.S. government were asked to comment on the satellite findings. A Pentagon spokesman declined to discuss the report, saying the Defense Department does not comment on battlefield conditions or intelligence matters because of operational security concerns.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said Friday that Iran has requested additional negotiations but insisted that the previous ceasefire arrangement has ended.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue ‘talks.’ We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Axios reported, citing a source familiar with the discussions, that U.S. and Iranian officials are expected to hold another round of talks next week, with Switzerland emerging as a possible venue.

According to the report, regional mediators have been working to lower tensions and lay the groundwork for renewed diplomacy following the recent military escalation between Washington and Tehran.

Iran’s Fars News Agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, quickly denied reports that another round of negotiations has been scheduled.

Earlier this week, Trump authorized a series of military strikes against targets inside Iran following Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

While those operations were underway, Trump told reporters that Iranian officials had contacted him seeking to reach an agreement with the United States.

“Iran called a while ago. They want to make a deal so badly,” the President said. “I just don’t know if they are worthy. I don’t know if they are going to honor the deal. That’s the problem.”

Israel’s political leadership has ordered the IDF to suspend all military operations classified as “sensitive” in southern Lebanon following a request from the United States, according to a Friday evening report by Kan 11 News.

The report said the directive will remain in place until further notice while officials monitor both the escalating confrontation between the United States and Iran and ongoing diplomatic contacts between Israel and Lebanon.

According to Kan 11, U.S. officials have become increasingly concerned in recent days that Israel could be drawn into the growing conflict with Iran while Washington remains focused on its own confrontation with Tehran.

A security official quoted in the report said Israel stands ready to respond forcefully if Iran launches an attack against Israeli territory, including carrying out major strikes inside Iran. Nevertheless, at the White House’s request, the IDF has been instructed to hold off for now in an effort to prevent the conflict from widening to include Israel.

The report also stated that the IDF could begin withdrawing from designated pilot zones in southern Lebanon as early as next week. The expected redeployment coincides with another round of negotiations between Israeli and Lebanese officials scheduled to take place in Rome.

Israel’s delegation will be headed by Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter, who will be joined by members of the Israeli negotiating team that participated in previous rounds of talks with Lebanon.

On Thursday, a U.S. official said the first pilot zone—under which territory currently controlled by Israeli forces would be transferred back to Lebanese authority—will begin operating “in a matter of days.”

The same official added that the United States “will soon begin outreach to international partners to help the Lebanese Government effectively restore sovereignty in these zones and across their country more broadly.”

The pilot-zone initiative is based on a 14-point framework negotiated during U.S.-mediated discussions between Israeli and Lebanese representatives in Washington in late June.

Despite the diplomatic progress, substantial disagreements remain between Jerusalem and Beirut over both the scope and timing of an Israeli military withdrawal, leaving the future of the framework uncertain.

According to a diplomatic source familiar with the negotiations, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has conditioned Lebanon’s continued participation in the talks on Israel first beginning its withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

The proposed arrangement has also drawn opposition from the Hezbollah terrorist organization, which has refused to disarm as required under the framework agreement and declared that “without Hezbollah, nothing will pass.”