Israeli analyst Boaz Golani has claimed that the ongoing war on Iran has decimated the Islamic Republic's military power potentially leaving a vacancy for Israel's "arch-nemesis."
In an opinion piece for the daily Maariv, Golani predicts that either Turkey or Pakistan will rise to fill this role.
Golani writes that Tehran is being "forced to vacate" its position as Israel's primary foe due to its military collapse and economic meltdown. He identifies Turkey and Pakistan as the main contenders noting both are large Sunni-majority nations with powerful militaries and complex relationships with the United States.
The analyst's comments come as relations between Israel and Turkey hit a new low. Over the past week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan have exchanged sharp accusations. Netanyahu accused Erdoğan of "accommodating Iran’s terror regime" and "massacring" Kurdish citizens, while Turkey has criticized Israel's military actions in Gaza and Syria.
Despite the rhetoric, "shadow ships" from Greece reportedly continue to pass through Turkey's port of Ceyhan to deliver oil and supplies to Israel. Analysts believe a future rivalry will likely center on competing interests in Syria.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has positioned itself as a central mediator, hosting peace talks in Islamabad between the U.S. and Iran. However, Pakistani officials remain vocal critics of Israel. Last week, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif sparked a diplomatic row by calling Israel a "curse for humanity" in a social media post, which was later deleted just hours before high-level delegations arrived for talks.
Golani warned that Israel must prepare for immediate confrontation with one of these powers once the Iranian conflict subsides. He stressed that maintaining a strong alliance with the U.S. remains Israel’s most vital defense against these emerging challenges.
