Pakistan Dismisses Former Israeli PM Naftali Bennett’s Allegations Over Regional Alliance

Pakistan’s Foreign Office has described the statement made by the former Israeli prime minister regarding Pakistan as speculative.

During the weekly press briefing on Thursday, when the spokesperson of the Foreign Office was asked about the remarks made by former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett concerning Pakistan, he said: “This is purely based on speculation. We will not comment on the statement of an official from a country that we do not recognize.”

The spokesperson further added that the “nature of the former Israeli prime minister’s statement is, in any case, inherently speculative.”

A few days ago, former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said that a new axis is emerging in the region that includes Turkey, Qatar, the Muslim Brotherhood, and nuclear-armed Pakistan.

While addressing the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in Jerusalem, Bennett said that this alliance is fueling hostility against Israel and efforts are also being made to influence Saudi Arabia.

What else did the former Israeli prime minister say?

Naftali Bennett warned at the conference that Turkey is becoming a new threat to Israel and that the government is unaware of it.

The former Israeli prime minister said, “Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is a dangerous rival who is trying to encircle Israel. We must not close our eyes again.”

Criticizing the Israeli government, Bennett said, “The current government is asleep once again. Fundamentalist threats on our borders are increasing. An axis of the Muslim Brotherhood, supported by Pakistani nuclear weapons and led by Turkey, is emerging.”

Bennett further said, “We must work together in different ways against the Iranian threat and Turkish hostility. Turkey is the new Iran.

Pakistan’s closeness with Saudi Arabia and Turkey

It is worth noting that in September last year, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a “strategic mutual defense agreement” concerning cooperation in defense matters and security.

Under the agreement, external aggression against one country will be considered aggression against both countries.

On the other hand, in January this year, Pakistan’s Minister of State for Defense Production, Raza Hayat Harraj, confirmed that after a year of negotiations, a draft defense agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey had been prepared. However, this agreement would be separate from the security agreement concluded last year between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

Perhaps the former Israeli prime minister’s remarks were also pointing toward this agreement, as the growing closeness among Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey is being viewed as a strong alliance.

Pakistan is the only Muslim country that possesses nuclear weapons, which increases its importance in the Islamic world.

On the other hand, Israel considers Iran’s nuclear program a threat. Last year, Israel also attacked Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities. However, within Israel there is also a perception that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons pose a threat to it.

It should be remembered that Pakistan has never recognized Israel as a state.

Are Pakistan’s nuclear weapons as dangerous as Iran’s potential weapons?

Nihat Ali Özcan, affiliated with the Ankara-based think tank TEPAV, told the American media outlet Bloomberg: “Saudi Arabia has financial power. Pakistan has nuclear capability and ballistic missiles, while Turkey has military experience and an advanced defense industry.”

According to Özcan, “As the United States prioritizes its own and Israel’s interests in the region, changing conditions and regional conflicts are forcing many countries to develop new mechanisms to identify their friends and enemies.”

In June 2016, journalist Ahmed Quraishi wrote in the Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post that “It is necessary for Israel and the global Jewish community to understand that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons are as dangerous as Iran’s potential weapons.”

Against whom is the Pakistan–Saudi alliance?

Yoel Guzansky, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies, wrote in an article in The Jerusalem Post that the growing closeness between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan is not directed against Israel.

On September 22 last year, Yoel Guzansky wrote that the defense agreement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan regarding nuclear weapons is ambiguous.

“It was probably done deliberately. Rumors of nuclear protection from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia have been circulating for years. These rumors stem from Riyadh’s financial support to Islamabad, particularly for its enrichment program.”

Guzansky further said, “Despite this, there is no mention of nuclear weapons in the agreement. Pakistan maintains its official position that its nuclear weapons are solely for India.

“Saudi Arabia may view Pakistan as a potential nuclear option, but does Pakistan see it in the same light? Ironically, by bringing this alliance into the public domain, Riyadh and Islamabad have fueled these rumors. What was previously discussed behind closed doors is now being discussed openly.”

According to Guzansky, Israel should not interpret this agreement as direct hostility against itself. “Rather, Saudi Arabia’s decision to strengthen ties with Pakistan reflects its growing concerns about American credibility, Iranian aggression, and regional instability.”

However, Israeli media continue to discuss threats from Pakistan.

Geopolitical expert Sergio Restelli wrote on November 29 last year in The Times of Israel that the closeness among Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey is increasing as Israel and India strengthen their partnership both militarily, technologically, and diplomatically.